Image display apparatus having image-related information displaying function

ABSTRACT

In an electronic apparatus having a user identification function or in a user identification method, an electronic apparatus and an electronic instrument having stored therein user personal information communicate in wireless with each other so as to enable the electronic apparatus to automatically identify the electronic apparatus user. If the electronic apparatus identifies a plurality of possible users, the electronic apparatus automatically selects the user by 10 executing specific user identification processing.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/926,564 filed Nov. 24, 2010, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/149,231 filed Apr. 29, 2008, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/497,146, filed May28, 2004, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

The disclosures of the following applications are herein incorporated byreference: Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-368014 filed Dec. 3,2001; Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-373831 filed Dec. 7, 2001;Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-375568 filed Dec. 10, 2001.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus that identifiesa user and performs an operation corresponding to the user and a methodfor identifying a user of an electronic apparatus and identifying anelectronic apparatus to be utilized by the user and, more specifically,it relates to an electronic apparatus that identifies a user throughcommunication executed between the electronic apparatus and the user anda method for identifying an electronic apparatus user and an electronicapparatus to be utilized by a user by executing communication betweenthe electronic apparatus and the user.

The present invention also relates to an electronic camera, an imagedisplay apparatus and an image display system that stores electronicimage data obtained by photographing a desired subject with theelectronic camera into a storage medium, reads out the electronic imagedata from the storage medium and displays an image reproduced from theelectronic image data at a specific screen and, more specifically, itrelates to an electronic camera, an image display apparatus and an imagedisplay system that brings up a display of information related to theimage data at the screen at which the image reproduced from the imagedata is displayed.

In addition, the present invention relates to an informationtransmission system and an information transmission method through whichdata are exchanged among portable terminals or the like and, morespecifically, it relates to an image transmission system and an imagetransmission method through which electronic image data obtained byphotographing a desired subject with a photographing apparatus such asan electronic camera are transmitted to an electronic instrument such asa portable telephone terminal having an image display function.

Electronic apparatuses such as cameras that identify electronicapparatus users and engage in a specific operation corresponding to agiven user are known in the related art. For instance, JapaneseLaid-Open Patent Publication No. H 11-164282 discloses a digital camerahaving a card read unit, which allows a user to enter personalinformation to the digital camera through the card reader unit,automatically connects with a data server corresponding to the userbased upon the entered personal information and automatically transfersimage data obtained through a photographing operation performed with thedigital camera to the data server.

The electronic apparatus in the related art described above requires amagnetic card or a memory card having stored therein the personalinformation to be directly loaded at the electronic apparatus ornecessitates a wired connection of the magnetic card or the memory cardto the electronic apparatus so that the personal information can be readinto the electronic apparatus.

However, having to directly load a magnetic card or a memory card at theelectronic apparatus or connect the magnetic card or the memory card tothe electronic apparatus, by means of wiring, each time the user needsto use the electronic apparatus places a considerable onus on the userand, moreover, there is a problem in that the electronic apparatuscannot be used immediately in a situation that arises suddenly. Forinstance, there is a risk of missing a good photo opportunity whilesetting the personal information in the digital camera.

In addition, in the electronic apparatus in the related art describedabove, the personal information is utilized for limited purposes such asthe automatic selection of the recipient to which images are to betransmitted and setting and display operations are performed in theelectronic apparatus without fully reflecting the personal information.As a result, the user may not always be satisfied with the ease ofoperation it affords. The design of the electronic apparatus isparticularly lax in consideration of users such as first-time users,seniors and children, who may not be accustomed to operating electronicapparatuses.

People also store image data obtained through a photographing operationperformed with an electronic camera on a trip or the like into a memorycard and later review images reproduced from the image data displayed ata liquid crystal display screen of the electronic camera in which thememory card is loaded or at a screen of a personal computer to which theimage data have been transferred from the memory card.

The user reviewing electronic image data in the related art as describedabove is simply allowed to view the reproduced images on display, andthere is difficulty in expanding the range of information utilizationbeyond reviewing of the images.

For instance, if the user becomes interested in a historical structureor the like photographed in the image he is currently reviewing, he hasto stop reviewing images temporarily to look it up in an encyclopedia orto conduct a search on the Internet. In addition, if the user becomesinterested in a person (the person's name, hobby, etc.) photographed inthe image he is reviewing, the user cannot obtain that person's personalinformation immediately on the spot.

In addition, image data obtained through a photographing operation of anelectronic camera are transferred to another image display terminal forreviewing the image data through an off-line information transmissionmethod, in which the image data are temporarily saved into a memory cardand then the memory card is loaded at the other image display terminalor through an on-line information transmission method, in which theimage data are transmitted through a wireless or wired communicationfrom the electronic camera to the other image display terminal, in therelated art. For instance, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. H10-341388 discloses an image transmission system which enables a directtransmission of image data from an electronic camera to anotherelectronic camera through optical communication achieved by usinginfrared light.

There are disadvantages to the off-line image transmission system andthe off-line image transmission method in the related art describedabove in that since they necessitate an exchange of an informationstorage medium such as a memory card between the electronic camera andthe image display terminal, the storage medium must be frequently loadedand unloaded, and data cannot be obtained and recorded through aphotographing operation in the meantime, and in that since the recordingmedium must be physically transported, there is a time lag before thedata can be utilized on the recipient side.

While the need to transport the information recording medium iseliminated by adopting the on-line transmission system and the on-lineimage transmission method in the related art described above, there is aproblem in that data cannot be obtained and recorded through aphotographing operation or the like while communication is in progressat a low transmission speed. In particular, the length of time requiredto transmit image data the volume of which is much larger than that ofstandard text data or the like tends to be very significant.Furthermore, when image data of a group picture of a number of peopletaken with an electronic camera are directly transmitted by theelectronic camera to portable telephones or the like of the plurality ofsubjects, the image data transmission takes a great deal of time.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides, preferably, an electronic apparatus thathas a user identification function for performing identification of theuser of the electronic apparatus through a wireless method so as tospeed up the user identification without placing an onus on the user andfor effectively preventing an erroneous identification that wouldidentify a party other than the user when executing the useridentification through the wireless method and a user identificationmethod that may be adopted in the electronic apparatus.

The present invention also provides, preferably, an electronic apparatusidentification method in which identification of an electronic apparatusto be utilized by a user is executed through a wireless method so as tospeed up the identification without placing an onus on the user, and anerroneous identification that would identify another electronicapparatus different from the intended electronic apparatus as theelectronic apparatus to be utilized is effectively prevented whenelectronic apparatus identification is executed through the wirelessmethod.

The present invention further provides, preferably, an electronicapparatus that has a user identification function that allowsbeginners/unexperienced users, elderly persons and children as well asexperienced users to operate the same electronic apparatus with ease,without requiring any special data input or registration setting toenable the electronic apparatus to execute a user identification.

The present invention further provides, preferably, an electroniccamera, an image display apparatus and an image display method thatenable an easy and prompt review of information related to a subjectphotographed in an image, which interests the user reviewing areproduced display of electronic image data in linkage with thereproduced display of the electronic image data.

The present invention also provides, preferably, an image transmissionsystem and an image transmission method that allow images to betransmitted to an image recipient side in a short time without placingan onus on the image sender side during an image transmission. Morespecifically, it provides an image transmission system and an imagetransmission method that allow image data obtained through aphotographing operation executed in an electronic camera to be promptlytransmitted to a partner-side electronic instrument without placing agreat onus on the electronic camera. Furthermore, the present inventionprovides an image transmission system and an image transmission methodthat enable distribution of image data obtained through a photographingoperation executed in an electronic camera to portable terminals carriedby a plurality of parties who are subjects without placing a great onuson the electronic camera.

In the electronic apparatus having a user identification function andthe identification method according to the present invention, theelectronic apparatus automatically identifies the user of the electronicapparatus through wireless communication executed between the electronicapparatus and an electronic instrument having stored therein userpersonal information. In addition, if the electronic apparatusidentifies a plurality of possible users, the electronic apparatusautomatically selects the correct user based upon specific useridentification processing.

In the electronic apparatus identification method according to thepresent invention, an electronic instrument carried by a userautomatically identifies an utilization-object, or target, electronicapparatus through wireless communication executed between the electronicapparatus and the electronic instrument. In addition, if the electronicinstrument identifies a plurality of possible utilization-objectelectronic apparatuses, the electronic instrument automatically selectsthe correct electronic apparatus based upon specific identificationprocessing.

In the electronic apparatus having a user identification function andthe identification method adopted in the electronic apparatus accordingto the present invention, the electronic apparatus engages in wirelesscommunication with an electronic instrument having stored thereinpersonal information that is available for general purposes and in theelectronic apparatus, to have the personal information transferred tothe electronic apparatus. The user is categorized based upon thepersonal information available for general purposes and variousoperational settings are automatically selected for the electronicapparatus based upon the categorization results.

In the electronic camera, the image display apparatus and the imagedisplay method according to the present invention, information relatedto a subject, which is made to correlate to the position of the subjectin the image plane is appended to the electronic image data and storedin memory and the information related to the subject is displayed incorrespondence to the subject position within the image plane in areproduced display of the electronic image data.

In the information transmission system (or image transmission system)and the information transmission method (or image transmission method)according to the present invention, an image generating apparatus (aphotographing apparatus, or an electronic camera) has a function whichallows it to be connected to the Internet, information (or an image)that has been generated and appended with identification data (or a filename), is first transmitted to a specific information server (or imageserver) on the Internet where it is temporarily saved (or uploaded), adirect connection is established with an electronic instrument which isthe recipient of the information (image) through a short-distancecommunication, information indicating the address of the Informationserver (or image server) on the Internet and the identification datacorresponding to the generated information (image) are transmitted tothe electronic instrument and the electronic instrument utilizes theinformation (image) by reading it out (or downloading) from theInformation server (or image server) on the Internet based upon theaddress information and the identification data having been received.

In the information transmission system (or image transmission system)and the information transmission method (or image transmission method)according to the present invention, an image generating apparatus (aphotographing apparatus, or an electronic camera) achieves a directconnection with an electronic instrument which is the recipient ofinformation (or image) through short-distance communication, receivesinformation indicating the address of the electronic instrument on theInternet from the electronic instrument on the partner side andtransmits (or uploads), on a temporary basis, the address information ofthe electronic instrument together with the information (or image) whichhas been generated to a specific information server (or image server) onthe Internet, and the information server (or image server), in turn,automatically transmits the information (or image) which has beenreceived to the electronic instrument corresponding to the receivedaddress information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a conceptual diagram of the system configuration adopted in afirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an external view (a front view) of the electronic cameraachieved in the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an external view (a rear view) of the electronic cameraachieved in the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the electrical structure adopted in theelectronic camera in the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows the structure of the user registration information;

FIG. 6 shows the structure of the personal information data;

FIG. 7 is a transition diagram of the state assumed in the electroniccamera according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 presents a correspondence list relevant to the useridentification operation;

FIG. 9 presents a flowchart of the main routine executed at the CPU;

FIG. 10 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 11 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 12 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 13 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 14 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 15 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 16 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 17 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 18 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 19 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 20 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 21 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 22 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 23 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 24 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 25 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 26 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 27 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 28 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 29 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 30 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 31 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 32 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 33 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 34 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 35 illustrates the structure of the wireless circuit;

FIG. 36 illustrates the communication directivity;

FIG. 37 illustrate the positional detection;

FIG. 38 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 39 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 40 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 41 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 42 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 43 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 44 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 45 illustrates the diopter adjustment;

FIG. 46 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 47 illustrates communication achieved through a user internal path;

FIG. 48 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 49 is a conceptual diagram of an example of a variation of thesystem configuration;

FIG. 50 shows an example of a variation of the communication sequence;

FIG. 51 illustrates a communication mode;

FIG. 52 presents an external view of a portable telephone;

FIG. 53 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 54 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 55 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 56 illustrates the concept adopted in a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 57 illustrates the system configuration adopted in the secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 58 is an external view (a front view) of the electronic cameraachieved in the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 59 is an external view (a rear view) of the electronic cameraachieved in the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 60 is a block diagram of the electrical structure adopted in theelectronic camera in the second embodiment;

FIG. 61 shows the structure of the data in the memory;

FIG. 62 shows the structure of the photograph information data;

FIG. 63 shows the structure of the general information data;

FIG. 64 shows the structure of the personal information data;

FIG. 65 is a transition diagram of the state assumed in an electroniccamera according to the present invention;

FIG. 66 presents a flowchart of the main program;

FIG. 67 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 68 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 69 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 70 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 71 illustrates the communication sequence;

FIG. 72 illustrates the position information detection;

FIG. 73 illustrates the position information detection;

FIG. 74 illustrates the position information detection;

FIG. 75 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 76 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 77 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 78 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 79 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 80 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 81 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 82 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 83 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 84 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 85 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 86 illustrates the structure of the wireless circuit;

FIG. 87 illustrates the communication directivity;

FIG. 88 presents an external view of a portable telephone;

FIG. 89 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 90 illustrates the image-plane position information detection;

FIG. 91 illustrates the communication directivity;

FIG. 92 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 93 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 94 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 95 illustrates how a subject is specified;

FIG. 96 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 97 illustrates an example of a variation of the systemconfiguration;

FIG. 98 illustrates the concept adopted in a third embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 99 illustrates the system configuration adopted in the thirdembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 100 is an external view (front view) of the electronic cameraachieved in the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 101 is an external view (rear view) of the electronic cameraachieved in the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 102 presents an external view (front view) of a portable telephoneterminal;

FIG. 103 is a block diagram of the electrical structure adopted in theelectronic camera;

FIG. 104 is a block diagram of the electrical structure adopted at theportable telephone terminal;

FIG. 105 presents a list of upload dial numbers and the correspondingimage servers;

FIG. 106 shows the structure of the data in the memory card;

FIG. 107 shows the structure of the photograph information data;

FIG. 108 presents a transition diagram of the operating state of theelectronic camera;

FIG. 109 presents a flowchart of the main program;

FIG. 110 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 111 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 112 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 113 illustrates the communication sequence;

FIG. 114 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 115 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 116 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 117 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 118 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 119 illustrates the communication sequence;

FIG. 120 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 121 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 122 illustrates the communication sequence;

FIG. 123 illustrates the concept adopted in an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 124 presents a flowchart of a subroutine;

FIG. 125 presents an example of screen display;

FIG. 126 illustrates the structure of the wireless circuit;

FIG. 127 illustrates the communication directivity; and

FIG. 128 illustrates the concept adopted in an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

The first embodiment of the present invention is explained in referenceto the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an electronic cameraadopting the present invention and an electronic image communicationsystem achieved by utilizing the electronic camera. In FIG. 1, anelectronic camera 100 that includes a memory card saves electronic imagedata or digital image data (hereafter referred to as image data)obtained through a photographing operation into the memory card. Inaddition, the electronic camera 100 has a short-distance wirelesscommunication function (e.g., Bluetooth (registered trademark; ®)enabling communication within a range of approximately a 10M) andengages in communication with a portable telephone 160 that also has ashort-distance wireless communication function. It is assumed that thisportable telephone 160 is carried by a user of the electronic camera 100and that a UIM card (user identification module card) 170 having storedtherein user personal information (or user information) can be loaded atthe portable telephone 160.

Through communication between the electronic camera 100 and the portabletelephone 160 carried by the user, the user personal information istransferred to the electronic camera 100 and the electronic camera 100,in turn, sets itself up for the specific user in conformance to thetransferred personal information. In addition, image data obtainedthrough a photographing operation at the electronic camera 100 aretransferred to the portable telephone 160 from the electronic camera100, and then the image data are transferred to a personal computer 140for personal use or an image server 150, first via a wireless basestation 120 through a wireless portable telephone line 120 and then viaa wired or wireless public telephone line or the Internet 130.

FIGS. 2 and 3 present external views (a front view and a rear view) ofan embodiment of the electronic camera 100 in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG.2, at the front of the electronic camera 100, a photographic lens 10which forms a subject image, a viewfinder 11 used to check thephotographic image plane, a strobe 12 used to illuminate the subjectduring a photographing operation, a photometering circuit 13 thatdetects the brightness of the subject and a grip portion 14 thatprojects out from the camera main body to allow the electronic camera100 to be held by hand are provided, whereas a shutter release button 16operated to issue an instruction for a photographing start and a powerswitch 17 (a momentary switch which is alternately set to ON or OFF eachtime it is operated) through which the on/off state of the power to theelectronic camera 100 is controlled are provided at the upper surface.

As shown in FIG. 3, at the rear of the electronic camera 100, aneyepiece unit of the viewfinder 11, a MODE dial 19 that can be rotatedto select a user-identify mode (a registration mode selected for userregistration, an automatic mode selected for automatic useridentification or a fixed mode selected for the user), a dot 20 used toindicate the setting position of the MODE dial 19, a left LCD (leftscreen) 21 having a substantially quadrangular screen for displayingtext and images and a right LCD (right screen) 22 having a substantiallyquadrangular screen for displaying text and images are provided. In thevicinity of the left screen 21 on its left side, an up button 23 and adown button 24 operated to switch the image displayed at the left screen21 are provided, whereas under the right screen 22 and the left screen21, a SET button 25 operated to set various operations of the electroniccamera 100, a SEND button 26 operated to issue an instruction for animage data transmission to the outside, a CONFIRM button 27 used tofinalize user selections and setting items and an INITIALIZE button 29operated to initialize the various operational settings in theelectronic camera 100 are provided. Above the left screen 21, aPHOTOGRAPH/DISPLAY button 28 operated to select a reproduction mode inwhich image data saved in a memory card 104 are displayed at the leftscreen 21 or a photographing mode in which image data are obtainedthrough photographing (the photographing mode or the reproduction modeis alternately selected each time the button is operated) is provided.At a side surface, a memory card slot 30 in which the memory card 104can be loaded is provided.

It is to be noted that the shutter release button 16, the MODE dial 19,the up button 23, the left LCD 24, the SET button 25, the SEND button26, the CONFIRM button 27, the PHOTOGRAPH/DISPLAY button 28 and theINITIALIZE button 29 are all operating keys operated by the user.

It is also to be noted about over the surfaces of the left screen 21 andthe right screen 22, so-called touch tablets 66 having a function ofoutputting position data corresponding to a position indicated through afinger contact operation are provided, and they can be used to make aselection from selection items displayed on the screens or to selectspecific image data. The touch tablets 66 are each constituted of atransparent material such as a glass resin so that the user can observeimages and text formed inside the touch tablets 66 through the touchtablets 66.

In the block diagram in FIG. 4, which presents an example of an internalelectrical structure that may be assumed in the electronic camera 100shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, various components are connected with oneanother via a data/control bus 51 through which various types ofinformation data and control data are transmitted.

The components are divided into the following five primary blocks,i.e., 1) a block, the core of which is a photographing control circuit60 that executes an image data photographing operation, 2) a block, thecore of which is constituted by a wireless transmission circuit 71 and awireless reception circuit 72 that execute transmission/reception ofimage data to and from the outside, 3) a block constituted of the memorycard 104 in which image data are stored and saved, 4) a block, the coreof which is a screen control circuit 92 that executes display of imagedata and information related to the image data and 5) a block, the coreof which is constituted of user interfaces such as operating keys 65 anda CPU 50 that implements integrated control on various control circuits.

The CPU 50 (central processing unit), which is a means for implementingoverall control on the electronic camera 100, issues variousinstructions for the photographing control circuit 60, the wirelesstransmission circuit 710, the wireless reception circuit 720, the screencontrol circuit 92 and a power control circuit 64 in conformance toinformation input from the operating keys 65, the touch tablets 66,various detection circuits 70, the power switch 17, a timer 74, thephotometering circuit 13, a GPS circuit 61 and an attitude changedetection circuit 62. It is to be noted that the various detectioncircuits 70 include a grip sensor to be detailed later and the like.

The photometering circuit 13 measures the brightness of the subject andoutputs photometric data indicating the results of the measurement tothe CPU 50. In conformance to the photometric data, the CPU 50 sets thelength of the exposure time and the sensitivity of a CCD 55 through aCCD drive circuit 56, and in addition, it controls the aperture valuefor an aperture 53 with an aperture control circuit 54 via thephotographing control circuit 60 in conformance to the data indicatingthe settings. In the photographing mode, the CPU 50 controls thephotographing operation via the photographing control circuit 60 inresponse to an operation of the shutter release button 15. In addition,if the photometric data indicate a low subject brightness, the CPU 50engages the strobe 12 in a light emission operation via a strobe drivecircuit 73 during the photographing operation.

The GPS circuit 61 (global positioning system circuit) detectsinformation indicating the position of the electronic camera 100 byusing information provided by a plurality of satellites orbiting aroundthe earth and provides the detected position information to the CPU 50.When an image is photographed, the CPU 50 transfers this positioninformation or processed position information (the name of the site, thegeographic location or the like) together with the image data to thememory card 104 for storage.

The attitude-change detection circuit 62, which is constituted of anattitude sensor of the known art or the like, capable of detecting achange in the attitude of the electronic camera 100, providesinformation indicating the extent of the attitude change having occurredbetween the immediately preceding photographing operation and thecurrent photographing operation to the CPU 50. Based upon the attitudechange information, a decision can be made with regard to whether or notthe photographic composition has been changed for the currentphotographing operation from that for the immediately precedingphotographing operation. The CPU 50 transfers this attitude changeinformation together with the image data to the memory card 104 forstorage.

The timer 74, having an internal clock circuit provides time informationcorresponding to the current time point to the CPU 50. The CPU 50transfers the time point information indicating a photographingoperation time point together with the image data to the memory card 104for storage. The CPU 50 controls the various units in conformance to acontrol program stored in a ROM 67 (read-only memory). In an EEPROM 68(electrically erasable/programmable ROM) which is a nonvolatile memory,personal information, registration setting information and the likenecessary for the operations of the electronic camera 100 are stored.The CPU 50 implements control on a power supply 63 via the power controlcircuit 64 by detecting the operating state of the power switch 17.

The photographing control circuit 60 focuses or zooms the photographiclens 10 through a lens drive circuit 52, controls the exposure quantityat the CCD 55 through control implemented on the aperture 53 by engagingthe aperture control circuit 54 and controls the operation of the CCD 55through the CCD drive circuit 56. The photographic lens 10 forms asubject image onto the CCD 55 with a light flux from the subject via theaperture 53 which adjusts the light quantity. This subject image iscaptured by the CCD 55. The CCD 55 (charge-coupled device) having aplurality of pixels is a charge storage type image sensor that capturesa subject image, and outputs electrical image signals corresponding tothe intensity of the subject image formed on the CCD 55 to an analogprocessing unit 57 in response to a drive pulse supplied by the CCDdrive circuit 56.

The analog processing unit 57 samples the image signals having undergonephotoelectric conversion at the CCD 56 with predetermined timing andamplifiers the sampled signals to a predetermined level. An A/Dconversion circuit 58 (analog digital conversion circuit) converts theimage signals sampled at the analog processing unit 57 to digital datathrough digitization and the digital data are temporarily stored into aphotographic buffer memory 59.

In the photographing mode, the photographing control circuit 60repeatedly executes the operation described above and the screen controlcircuit 92 repeatedly executes an operation in which the digital datasequentially stored into the photographic buffer memory 59 are readoutvia the data/control bus 51, the digital data thus read out aretemporarily stored into a frame memory 69, the digital data areconverted to display image data and are restored into the frame memory69 and the display image data are displayed at the left screen 21. Inaddition, the screen control circuit 92 obtains text display informationfrom the CPU 50 as necessary, converts it to display text data which arethen stored into the frame memory 69 and displays the display text dataat the left screen 21 and the right screen 22. Since the image currentlycaptured by the CCD 55 is displayed at the left screen 21 in real timein the photographing mode in this manner, the user is able to set thecomposition for the photographing operation by using this through screen(through image) as a monitor screen.

The photographing control circuit 60 detects the state of the focaladjustment at the photographic lens 10 by analyzing the degree of thehigh-frequency component of the digital data stored in the photographicbuffer memory 59 and performs a focal adjustment for the photographiclens 10 with the lens drive circuit 52 based upon the results of thedetection. Upon receiving a photographing instruction from the CPU 50,the photographing control circuit 60 engages the CCD 55 to capture asubject image via the CCD drive circuit 56 and temporarily stores imagesignals generated through the image-capturing operation as digital data(raw data) into the photographic buffer memory 59 via the analogprocessing unit 57 and the A/D converter circuit 58. The photographingcontrol circuit 60 then generates image data by converting orcompressing the digital data stored in the photographic buffer memory 59on a temporary basis to a predetermined recording format (such as JPEG)and stores the image data back into the photographic buffer memory 59.The photographing control circuit 60 stores the image data stored backinto the photographic buffer memory 59 into the memory card 104 as animage file.

In the reproduction mode, the screen control circuit 92 reads out animage file specified by the CPU 50 from the memory card 104, temporarilystores the image file into the frame memory 69, converts the image datato display image data and stores the display image data back into theframe memory 69 and then displays the display image data at the leftscreen 21.

In the reproduction mode, upon receiving a transmission instruction fromthe CPU 50, the wireless transmission circuit 71 reads out a specifiedimage file from the memory card 104 and outputs this image file to theoutside through wireless transmission. The wireless transmission circuit71 and the wireless reception circuit 72 engage in communication with anexternal wireless instrument during a user identification operation andprovides the results of the communication to the CPU 50.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the data structure of user registration informationsaved within the EEPROM 68. As shown in FIG. 5, the user registrationinformation is prepared for individual users (user A, user B, defaultuser and most recent user in FIG. 5). The default user is ageneral-purpose user having set for use in case a user identificationcould not be performed successfully, and the most recent user is theuser who last operated the electronic camera 100. Each set of individualuser information includes identification data (individual identificationdata used to identify the instrument at the communication partner),personal information data (see FIG. 6), camera data and priority orderdata. The camera data are constituted of camera information,communication information, custom setting data, last operating timepoint data and last setting data.

As shown in FIG. 6, the personal information data are generalpersonal-information data having no relevance to the settings at theelectronic camera 100, which can be utilized for multiple purposes. Forthis reason, it is not necessary to specially set these personalinformation data in order to operate the electronic camera 100. Thepersonal information data include the name, the date of birth and thepreferred language of the individual, physical data (visual acuity,diopter(eyesight) and hand preference), tastes (favorite color, etc.)and other data, and the electronic camera 100 can be customized by usingthe personal information data.

FIG. 7 is a transition diagram of the state assumed in the electroniccamera in the embodiment of the present invention. As the power isturned on, wireless user identification processing is executed. Duringthe user identification processing, a communication operation and acamera setting operation are performed. Once the user identificationprocessing at power ON is completed, the operation shifts to thephotographing mode in which a photographing operation and a camerasetting operation are performed. In response to an operation of thePHOTOGRAPH/DISPLAY button 28, the operation shifts from thephotographing mode to the reproduction mode or from the reproductionmode to the photographing mode. In the reproduction mode, an image datareproducing operation, a camera setting operation and an image datatransmission operation are performed. If the MODE dial 19 is set forregistration, the operation shifts to user registration processing fromthe photographing mode or the reproduction mode, a communicationoperation and a registration operation for user registration areperformed, and then when these operations are completed, the operationshifts back into the original mode, i.e., the photographing mode or thereproduction mode.

The table in FIG. 8 provided to facilitate an explanation of the useridentification processing operation indicates that the default user isset as the current user if the number of users detected through thewireless communication operation is 0, the detected user is set as thecurrent user if the number of detected users is one, and the userselected through automatic selection processing which is to be detailedlater is set as the current user if the number of detected users is twoor more.

FIG. 9 presents a chart of the main flow of the operations executed inthe electronic camera 100 (the CPU 50) in the embodiment describedabove. First, the power is turned on as the power switch 17 is operatedin S10, and a user identification processing subroutine to be detailedlater is executed in S20 to identify the current user of the electroniccamera 100. When the user identification processing in S20 is completed,a photographing mode subroutine is executed in S30 and thus the cameraenters a photographing-enabled state. If the shutter release button 16is operated in the photographing mode, a release interrupt processingsubroutine in S40 is executed to perforin a photographing operation. Ifthe PHOTOGRAPH/DISPLAY button 28 is operated in the photographing mode,a photographing/reproduction interrupt processing subroutine in S70 isexecuted and a reproduction mode subroutine in S80 is executed todisplay the reproduced image of image data stored in the memory card 104at the left screen 21. If, on the other hand, the PHOTOGRAPH/DISPLAYbutton 28 is operated in the reproduction mode, thephotographing/reproduction interrupt processing subroutine in S70 isexecuted and the photographing mode subroutine in S30 is executed.

If the SEND button 26 is operated in the reproduction mode, atransmission interrupt processing subroutine in S90 is executed totransmit the image data currently reproduced in the reproduction mode tothe outside. In addition, if the SET button 25 is operated either in thephotographing mode or the reproduction mode, a setting interruptprocessing in S60 is executed to enable manual setting of the camera, ifthe INITIALIZE 29 is operated either in the photographing mode or thereproduction mode, initialize interrupt processing in S95 is executed toinitialize the camera settings in correspondence to the specific userand if the MODE dial 19 is set for registration in the photographingmode or the reproduction mode, a registration interrupt processing inS50 is executed to enable a new user registration.

In the detailed flowchart of the user identification processingsubroutine presented in FIG. 10, the last user is set as the most recentuser in S201 after the subroutine is started up in S20. In S202, theMODE dial 19 is checked to ascertain whether or not it is set to “auto”,the most recent user is set as the current user if the MODE dial 19 isnot set to “auto” and, accordingly, the most recent user settings areselected for the camera before the operation proceeds to S210. Namely,if the MODE dial 19 is set to “fixed”, the last user who operated thecamera is set as the current user and the camera settings are selectedaccordingly without executing a user identification. If, on the otherhand, it is ascertained in S202 that the MODE dial 19 is set to “auto”,the operation proceeds to step S204 to attempt communication with theoutside for user detection by engaging the wireless transmission circuit71 and the wireless reception circuit 72. At this time, the userdetection is performed over the maximum wireless communication range bysetting the output signal level G of the wireless transmission circuit71 to the maximum (Gmax).

In S205, a verification as to whether or not the number of registeredusers among the detected users is 0 is accomplished, and if the numberof registered users is 0, the default setting is selected for the user,the camera settings for the default user are selected and the mostrecent user is updated as the default user in S206 before the operationproceeds to S210. If, on the other hand, it is ascertained in S205 thatthe number of registered users is not 0, a verification is achieved inS207 as to whether or not the number of registered users among thedetected users is 1, and if the number of registered users is 1, thedetected registered user is set as the current user, the camera settingsfor the detected registered user are selected and the most recent useris updated as the detected registered user in S208 before the operationproceeds to S209.

If it is ascertained in S207 that the number of registered users amongthe detected users is not 1, i.e., if number of registered users amongthe detected users is at least 2, a single registered user is selectedthrough an automatic user selection subroutine executed in S25 which isto be detailed later, and then the operation proceeds to S209. In S209,the individual user information of the registered user having determinedto be the current user is read and stored into the EEPROM 68 bycommunicating with the selected registered user again.

In step S210, a verification as to whether or not the most recent userwhose individual user information is stored in the EEPROM 68 matches thelast user is achieved, and if they match, the operation makes a directreturn in S211. If, on the other hand, they do not match, an automaticsetting subroutine in S22 which is to be detailed later is executed toinitialize the camera settings before the operation makes a return inS211.

In the detailed flowchart of the automatic user selection subroutinepresented in FIG. 11, after the subroutine is started up in S25, theoutput signal level G of the wireless transmission circuit 71 is firstinitialized to the minimum (Gmin) in S251 to reduce the wirelesscommunication range to the minimum, and then a wireless communication isattempted at the output signal level setting G to communicate with aregistered user in S252. A verification is achieved in S253 as towhether or not communication with the registered user has been achieved,and if no communication has been achieved, the output signal level G ofthe wireless transmission circuit 71 is increased by AG in S254. InS255, a verification is achieved as to whether or not the output signallevel G of the wireless transmission circuit 71 exceeds the maximum(Gmax), and if the output signal level G does not exceed the maximumlevel, the operation returns to S252 to attempt communication with aregistered user by slightly increasing the output signal level.

If it is confirmed in S253 that communication with a registered user hasbeen achieved, a verification is achieved in S257 as to whether or notcommunication with a plurality of registered users has been achieved atthe output signal level setting, and if communication has not beenachieved with a plurality of registered users, the registered user withwhom communication has been achieved is accepted as the current user,the camera settings for the registered user with whom communication hasbeen achieved are selected and the most recent user is updated as theregistered user with whom communication has been achieved in S258 beforethe operation makes a return in S261.

If, on the other hand, it is verified in S257 that communication with aplurality of registered users has been achieved at the output signallevel setting, the registered user ranked highest in the priority orderamong the registered users with whom communication has been achieved isselected as the current user in S259, and the registered user thusselected is set as the current user, the camera settings for theselected registered user are selected and the most recent user isupdated as the selected registered user in S260 before the operationmakes a return in S261.

If it is decided in S255 that the output signal level G of the wirelesstransmission circuit 71 exceeds the maximum (Gmax), the default user isset as the current user, the camera settings for the default user areselected and the most recent user is updated as the default user in S256before the operation makes a return in S261.

As described above, since the registered users are searched whilegradually increasing the wireless communication range in the userautomatic selection subroutine shown in FIG. 11, the registered userpresent within the shortest distance from the camera (likely to be thecurrent user of the camera) can be automatically selected and even ifcommunication is achieved simultaneously with a plurality of registeredusers, the user most likely to be operating the camera can be selectedin conformance to the predetermined priority order.

In the detailed flowchart of the automatic setting processing subroutinepresented in FIG. 12, after the subroutine is started up in S22, thelast user and the most recent user are displayed at the left screen 21and a message indicating that the last user and the most recent user donot match is displayed at the right screen 22 in S221. Next, theinitialize interrupt processing subroutine in S95 is executed before theoperation makes a return in S222.

In the detailed flowchart of the initialize interrupt processingsubroutine presented in FIG. 14, after the subroutine is started up inS95, the camera settings are initialized to the custom settingscorresponding to the most recent user in S951 and then the operationmakes a return in S952.

In the detailed flowchart of the photographing mode subroutine presentedin FIG. 15, after the subroutine is started up in S30, the processing inS301 is repeatedly executed. In S301, image data sequentially generatedby the CCD 55 under the camera setting condition selected by the user orin the initialized camera setting condition are displayed at the leftscreen 21 and the corresponding camera setting condition and the username are displayed in text at the right screen 22, as shown in FIG. 16.

In the detailed flowchart of the release interrupt processing subroutinepresented in FIG. 17, after the subroutine is started up in S40, averification is achieved in S401 as to whether or not the camera iscurrently set in the photographing mode, and if it is decided that thecamera is not set in the photographing mode, the operation makes areturn in S403. If, on the other hand, the camera is set in thephotographing mode, an image-capturing operation is executed in thecamera setting condition corresponding to the user and image dataobtained through the image-capturing operation are stored into thememory card 104 in S402. In addition, the image data are displayed atthe screen over a predetermined length of time before the operationmakes a return in S403.

In the detailed flowchart of the reproduction mode subroutine presentedin FIG. 18, after the subroutine is started up in S80, the processing inS801 is repeatedly executed. In S801, specific image data stored in thememory card 104 are selected and read out in response to an operation ofthe direction buttons 23 and 24 and the image data are reproduced anddisplayed at the left screen 21 and the operating instructions and theuser name are displayed at the right screen 22, as shown in FIG. 19.

In the detailed flowchart of the transmission interrupt processingsubroutine presented in FIG. 20, after the subroutine is started up inS90, a verification is achieved in S901 as to whether or not the camerais currently set in the reproduction mode and the operation makes areturn in S903 if the camera is not set in the reproduction mode. If, onthe other hand, the camera is currently set in the reproduction mode,the image data the reproduced image of which is currently displayed atthe left screen 21 are read out from the memory card 104 and the imagedata are wirelessly transmitted to the recipient corresponding to theuser through the wireless transmission circuit 71 in S902, and then theoperation makes a return in S903.

In the detailed flowchart of the registration interrupt processingsubroutine presented in FIG. 21, after the subroutine is started up inS50, two selection items, i.e., “new user registration” and “registereduser selection” are displayed is at the left screen 21, as shown in FIG.22, to allow the user to select one of the selection items in S501. Ifthe user selects “new user registration”, a communication for userdetection is attempted through the wireless transmission circuit 71 andthe wireless reception circuit 72 by setting the output signal level Gto the maximum (Gmax) in S502. In S503, the names of the detected usersand their identification data are displayed at the left screen 21 asshown in FIG. 23 to enable a selection of the user to be registered. InS504, the registered users are displayed in conformance to the priorityorder at the left screen 21, as shown in FIG. 24, to enable selection ofa priority order rank for the user to be newly registered.

In S505, data indicating the selected user and his priority order rankand data related to the selected user (the identification data and thepersonal information data) are registered and saved at the EEPROM 68. InS60, the setting interrupt processing subroutine is executed to selectthe camera settings and the like for the newly registered user, and thenin S506, data indicating the selected settings and the like areregistered and saved at the EEPROM 68 as the camera data of the newlyregistered user and also the setting data are sent back through thewireless transmission circuit 71 to be saved into an instrument such asa portable telephone carried by the user before the operation proceedsto S509.

If, on the other hand, “registered user selection” is selected in S501,the names of the registered users are displayed at the left screen 21 asshown in FIG. 25 to enable a selection of the desired registered user inS507, and then the current user is switched to the selected registereduser, the camera settings are switched to those for the selectedregistered user and the most recent user is updated as the selectedregistered user in S508 before the operation proceeds to S509. In S509,the MODE dial 19 is repeatedly checked to verify whether or not asetting other than the registration mode has been selected through theMODE dial 19, and if a setting other than the registration mode has beenselected, the operation makes a return in S510.

In the detailed flowchart of the setting interrupt processing subroutinepresented in FIG. 26, after the subroutine is started up in S60,exposure-mode selection items are displayed at the left screen 21 asshown in FIG. 27 in S601 to enable a user selection. In S602, AF mode(automatic focal adjustment mode) selection items are displayed at theleft screen 21, as shown in FIG. 28, to enable a user selection. InS603, image-data-recording-mode selection items are displayed at theleft screen 21, as shown in FIG. 29, to enable a user selection. InS604, image-data-display-mode selection items are displayed at the leftscreen 21, as shown in FIG. 30, to enable a user selection. Then, inS605, the current camera settings are updated in conformance to theselected camera settings before the operation makes a return in S606.

In the detailed flowchart of the photographing/reproduction interruptprocessing subroutine presented in FIG. 31, after the subroutine isstarted up in S70, a verification is achieved as to whether or not thecamera is currently set in the reproduction mode, and if it is decidedthat the camera is set in the reproduction mode, the operation exits thereproduction mode in S702 to shift to the photographing mode subroutinein S30. If, on the other hand, the camera is not set in the reproductionmode, the operation exits the photographing mode in S703 to shift to thereproduction mode subroutine in S80.

In the detailed flowchart of an example of a variation of the automaticuser selection subroutine presented in FIG. 32, after the subroutine isstarted up in S25, communication with detected registered users isexecuted with the output level of the wireless transmission signal setat a constant level and data indicating the reception signal outputlevels at the user-side instruments are obtained from the user-sideinstruments in S271. Then, in S272, the registered user whose dataindicate the highest reception signal output level is selected. In S273,the selected registered user is set as the current user, the camerasettings for the selected registered user are selected and the mostrecent user is updated as the selected registered user before theoperation makes a return in S274.

As described above, in the automatic user selection subroutine shown inFIG. 32, signal output levels of the signal transmitted by theelectronic camera and received by the users are detected on thereception side, and the data indicating the detected reception signaloutput levels are sent back to the camera where the registered user withthe highest output level for reception signal (within the shortestdistance) is selected.

In the detailed flowchart of another example of a variation of theautomatic user selection subroutine presented in FIG. 33, after thesubroutine started up in S25, the electronic camera communicates withdetected registered users and obtains data indicating the output levelsof signals transmitted by the user-side instruments from the user-sideinstruments in S281. In S282, the signals transmitted by the user-sideare received and the output levels of the received signals are detected.In S283, the registered user with the lowest signal-attenuation rate isselected by comparing the reception-signal output levels with thetransmission signal output-level data. In S284, the registered user thusselected is set as the current user, the camera settings for theselected registered user are selected and the most recent user isupdated as the selected registered user, and then the operation makes areturn in S285. As described above, in the user automatic selectionsubroutine shown in FIG. 33, the registered user with the lowest signalattenuation rate at the electronic camera (the registered user withinthe shortest distance) is selected.

In the detailed flowchart of yet another example of a variation of theuser automatic selection subroutine presented in FIG. 34, after thesubroutine is started up in S25, the registered user whose lastoperation of the electronic camera is recorded with the most recent timeamong the detected registered users is selected in S291. In S292, theregistered user thus selected is set as the current user, the camerasettings for the selected registered user are selected and the mostrecent user is updated as the selected registered user before theoperation makes a return in S285.

As described above, in the user automatic selection subroutine shown inFIG. 34, the registered user whose last operation of the electroniccamera is the most recent (most likely to be the current user) isselected from the detected registered users. By referencing the historyof the use of the camera by the users in this manner, the level of theuser identification capability can be improved.

In FIG. 35 illustrating the structure of the wireless transmissioncircuit 71 and the wireless reception circuit 72 within the electroniccamera, the wireless transmission circuit 71 and the wireless receptioncircuit 72 are enclosed by an electromagnetic shield film 79 over thecamera front surface (along with the photographic optical axis), thecamera lower surface, the camera upper surface and the camera left andright side surfaces. Accordingly, the wireless transmission circuit 71and the wireless reception circuit 72 are allowed to achievecommunication readily with a portable instrument 180A carried by a userlikely to be present to the rear of the camera, i.e., the photographer(user A in the figure) and are not allowed to achieve readycommunication with a portable instrument 180B carried by the subject(user B in the figure) or the like present along the photographingdirection. FIG. 36, which shows the communication directivity of thewireless transmission circuit 71 and the wireless reception circuit 72,indicates that the directivity on the side to the rear of the electroniccamera 100 is extreme and that the directivity on the side to the front(along the optical axis 40) is slight.

By adopting the structure shown in FIG. 35 to allow the wirelesstransmission circuit 71 and the wireless reception circuit 72 to assumeextreme directivity on the side to the rear of the camera as describedabove, the likelihood of detecting the photographer as the current useris increased. It is to be noted that the directivity may be adjusted byadopting a specific antenna structure as well as by using anelectromagnetic shield film.

In FIG. 37 illustrating a user selection achieved based upon thepositional relationships between the camera and users, camera user A andcamera user B individually detect position data (x, y, z) with GPS(global positioning system) units, and the detected position data (x1,y1, z1) and (x2, y2, z2) of user A and user B respectively are providedto the camera which calculates the relative distances between the cameraand user A and between the camera and user B based upon its own positiondata (x0, y0, z0) and selects the user present within the shortestrelative distance. For instance, the relative distance between thecamera and user A can be calculated as the square root of the sum of thesquares of (x1−x0), (y 1−y0) and (z 1−z 0).

In the detailed flowchart of an embodiment of the user automaticselection subroutine which is achieved by utilizing GPS units presentedin FIG. 38, after the subroutine is started up in S25, the position dataindicating the user positions are obtained by communicating with thedetected registered users in S391. In S392, position data indicating theposition of the camera itself are detected. In S393, based upon the userposition data and the camera position data, the relative distancesbetween the camera and detected registered users are calculated. InS394, the registered user present within the shortest relative distanceis selected. In S395, the registered user thus selected is set as thecurrent user, the camera settings for the selected registered user areselected and the most recent user is updated as the selected registereduser before the operation makes a return in S396.

As described above, in the user automatic selection subroutine shown inFIG. 38, the registered user present within the shortest distance fromthe camera is selected based upon the positions detected with the GPSunits.

In the detailed flowchart of a user manual selection subroutine executedto manually select the current user instead of through the userautomatic selection subroutine, after the subroutine is started up inS35, the registered users detected as a result of a communication trialare displayed at the left screen 21, as shown in FIG. 40, to enable auser selection in S351, In S352, the registered user that has beenselected is set as the current user, the camera settings for theselected registered user are selected and the most recent user isupdated as the selected registered user, before the operation makes areturn in S353. As described above, in the user manual selectionsubroutine shown in FIG. 39, a registered user is manually selected fromthe detected users indicated as the results of communication and thus,the current user can be selected with a high degree of reliability.

In the detailed flowchart of a grip sensor interrupt processingsubroutine presented in FIG. 41, through which the user identificationprocessing can be started at power ON, as well as in response to anoutput from a grip sensor internally provided at the grip portion 14,the grip-sensor-interrupt-processing subroutine in S45 is started up asthe grip sensor senses that there has been a change at the grip portion14, i.e., a change from a non-gripped state to a gripped state and theuser identification processing subroutine in S20 is executed accordinglybefore the operation makes a return in S451. By executing the gripsensor interrupt subroutine shown in FIG. 41 as described above, thecurrent user can be identified with a high degree of reliability evenwhen a change of photographer occurs while the power is on.

In the detailed flowchart of a timer interrupt processing subroutinepresented in FIG. 42, through which the user identification processingis started up by a timer interrupt, the timer interrupt processing inS46 is started up over a predetermined time interval, a verification isachieved in S461 as to whether or not the camera is currently set in aself timer photographing mode (a mode set with an operating member (notshown), in which an image-capturing operation is executed with apredetermined delay following a shutter release operation) or a remotecontrol mode (a mode set with an operating member (not shown), in whichthe shutter is released in the camera through a remote controloperation), and if the camera is set in either the self timerphotographing mode or the remote control mode, the operation makes areturn in S462 without executing a user identification. If, on the otherhand, the camera is not set in the self timer photographing mode or theremote control mode, the user identification processing subroutine inS20 is executed and then the operation makes a return in S462.

As described above, the timer interrupt processing subroutine shown inFIG. 42, the user identification is executed over predetermined timeintervals to achieve a reliable user identification even when thephotographer hands the camera over to another operator while the poweris on. In addition, since the user identification is not executed in anoperating mode (the self timer photographing mode or the remote controlmode) in which the photographer is likely to be away from the camera,the reliability of user identification is improved.

In the detailed flowchart of an example of a variation of theinitialize-interrupt-processing subroutine presented in FIG. 43, thecamera operation is set based upon the personal information data. Afterthe subroutine is started up in S95, the default settings for thepreferred language, the display character size, the preferred text styleand the operating mode (preferred language=Japanese, charactersize=enlarged size, text style=easy, operating mode=full automatic) areselected in S961. In S962, a verification is achieved as to whether ornot the most recent user is the default user, and if the most recentuser is the default user, the operation makes a return in S570. If, onthe other hand, the most recent user is not the default user, averification is achieved in S963 as to whether or not the preferredlanguage of the most recent user is Japanese, and if the preferredlanguage is Japanese, the operation proceeds to S965. If, on the otherhand, the preferred language of the most recent user is not Japanese,English is set for the preferred language in S964 before the operationproceeds to S965. In S965, a verification is achieved as to whether ornot the visual acuity of the most recent user is equal to or higher than1.0 and if the visual acuity of the most recent user and is not equal toor higher than 1.0, the operation proceeds to S967. If the visual acuityof the most recent user is equal to or higher than 1.0, on the otherhand, the character size is set to a standard size before the operationproceeds to S967. In S967, a verification is achieved as to whether ornot the age of the most recent user is equal to or higher than 15 andequal to or lower than 60, and if the age of the most recent user is notequal to or higher than 15 and equal to or lower than 60, the operationmakes a return in S570. If, on the other hand, the age of the mostrecent user is equal to or higher than 15 and equal to or lower than 60,the text style is set to “standard” in S968, the operating mode is setto “manual” in S969 and then the operation makes a return in S570. Thesettings thus selected are reflected in the camera operation and thedisplay operation executed after the return.

As described above, in the initialize interrupt subroutine shown andFIG. 43, the operating mode of the camera is adjusted to satisfyindividual user needs (a user likely to be inexperienced can use thecamera with ease in the full auto (fully automatic) mode, whereas anexperienced user can use the camera in a more advanced applicationthrough manual setting), the character size is adjusted for aneasy-to-check display (a display of larger-sized characters for a userwith poor vision), the text style is adjusted to ensure that anerror-free operation is performed (an easy text style, free of technicalterms, and graphics are used for seniors and children) and a reliableman-machine interface is provided by adjusting the preferred language,based upon the personal information data (the age, the visual acuity andthe preferred language). FIG. 44 presents an example of a screen displaybrought up in the photographing mode with the preferred language set toEnglish, the character size set to large and the text style set to easy.Simple English text (without any technical terms) is displayed by usinglarge-size alphanumeric characters together with graphics and, in thiscase, the camera assumes the full auto settings (program exposure mode,one-shot AF mode, normal recording mode and color normal display mode),thereby allowing even an inexperienced photographer to perform areliable photographing operation without having to select specialsettings.

In FIG. 45, presenting an example of a configuration that may be adoptedto automatically adjust the viewfinder diopter in conformance to dataindicating the user diopter (eyesight), a Kepler viewfinder (areal-image finder) is constituted with an objective lens 110, anerecting prism 111 and an eyepiece lens 112 and the photographic fieldcan be observed with an eye 113 set on a viewfinder optical axis 115. Bymoving the eyepiece lens 112 along the viewfinder optical axis, thediopter can be adjusted. The eyepiece lens 112 is moved by a motor 114which is controlled by the CPU 50.

FIG. 46 presents a detailed flowchart of an automatic diopter (eyesight)adjustment performed for each user by adopting the configuration shownin FIG. 45 through the initialize interrupt processing subroutine. Afterthe subroutine is started up in S95, the diopter is set to the defaultvalue in S971, a verification is achieved in S972 as to whether or notthe most recent user is the default user and if the most recent user isthe default user, the operation proceeds to S975. If, on the other hand,the most recent user is not the default user, the operation proceeds toS973 to make a verification as to whether or not the diopter data of themost recent user are available and if the diopter data are notavailable, the operation proceeds to S975. If the diopter data areavailable, the diopter is set as indicated by the diopter data of themost recent user and then the operation proceeds to S975. In S975, theCPU 50 drives the motor 114 in conformance to the diopter that has beenset to adjust the position of the eyepiece lens 112, thereby completingthe diopter adjustment executed in conformance to the user diopterbefore the operation makes a return in S976. It is to be noted that dataindicating the extent of user fatigue may be read out by communicatingwith the user over predetermined time intervals to fine-adjust thediopter in conformance to the fatigue data, or the length of time overwhich the electronic camera 100 has been continuously used since theuser started operating the electronic camera 100 may be measured tofine-adjust the diopter in conformance to the length of the continuousoperation.

In FIG. 47 showing the structure that may be adopted in an example of avariation of the wireless communication between the electronic cameraand an instrument carried by the user, a weak electrical current (a weakelectromagnetic wave) traveling through a path 202 inside the body (ahand 201) of the user holding the portion 14 of the electronic camera100 is used to enable communication between the CPU 50 and awristwatch-type instrument 200 worn by the user at which the userinformation is stored, through a transmission/reception circuit 75. Thesurface of the grip portion 45, an electrical contact layer thattransmits/receives electrical signals through the hand placed in contactwith the surface is formed. This contact layer is connected with thetransmission/reception circuit 75, so as to enable communication withthe instrument 200 carried by the user via the hand holding the portion14. The instrument 200, too, includes an electrical contact layer to beplaced in contact with the hand 201 of the user, so that data can bereceived and stored data can be transmitted through the contact layer.

In the detailed flowchart of a user processing subroutine presented inFIG. 48, which is achieved by adopting the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 47, after the subroutine is started up in S25, a verification isachieved in S551 through the grip sensor as to whether or not theportion 14 is gripped and if it is judged that the portion 14 is notgripped, the most recent user is set as the current user, the camerasettings for the most recent user are selected and the most recent usersetting is left unchanged in S552 before the operation makes a return inS557. If, on the other hand, it is judged in S551 that the portion 14 isgripped, a communication is attempted via the path 202 within the hand201 in S553, and if it is judged in S554 that communication has beenachieved, the user with whom communication has been achieved is set asthe current user, the camera settings for the user with whomcommunication has been achieved are selected and the most recent user isupdated as the user with whom communication has been achieved in S555before the operation makes a return in S557. If, on the other hand, itis judged in S554 that communication has not been achieved, the defaultuser is set as the current user, the camera settings for the defaultuser are selected and the most recent user is updated as the defaultuser in S556, and then the operation makes a return in S557. Asdescribed above, since communication with the instrument having storedtherein the user personal information is achieved through the handholding the electronic camera 100 in the user automatic selectionsubroutine shown in FIG. 48, the operator (the user) of the electroniccamera 100 can be selected with a high degree of reliability.

FIG. 49 is another conceptual diagram of an electronic camera adoptingthe present invention and an electronic image communication systemachieved by utilizing this electronic camera. While the personalinformation data stored in the UIM card 170 loaded at the portabletelephone 160 are read into the electronic camera 100 through ashort-distance wireless communication between the electronic camera 100and the portable telephone 180 carried by the user in the electronicimage communication system in FIG. 1, personal information data storedin a wireless tag (a non-contact IC card) are automatically read fromthe wireless tag into the electronic camera 100 as the wireless tagenters the vicinity of the electronic camera 100 internally providedwith a non-contact wireless read unit in the electronic imagecommunication system shown in FIG. 49. The electronic camera 100 alsohas a function of engaging in wireless communication through a wirelesstelephone line 190 and thus is capable of transmitting image dataobtained through an image-capturing operation to an external database140 and the like. As described above, in the electronic imagecommunication system shown in FIG. 49, the operations of the electroniccamera 100 can be customized by the user simply by holding a compactwireless tag (a non-contact IC card) which does not require a powersource.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 1 and 10), a wirelesscommunication between the electronic apparatus and a portable instrumentcarried by a user is achieved simply as the user approaches theelectronic apparatus, the personal information on the user istransferred to the electronic apparatus and the electronic apparatusautomatically selects operational settings that are optimal for the userin conformance to the personal information. As a result, the user isable to immediately operate the electronic apparatus which has beencustomized for his use without having to perform a special operation.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 1), in which the useridentification is executed through short-distance wirelesscommunication, the likelihood of communicating with a partner (or anopponent) that is the current user is increased.

In the embodiment (see FIG. 9), the user identification is executed atpower ON before the main operation of the electronic apparatus startsand the settings of the electronic apparatus are selected incorrespondence to the identified user. Thus, a given user can alwaysoperate the electronic apparatus at the settings customized for theuser.

Since the communication partner most likely to be the current user isautomatically selected as the user if wireless communication with aplurality of partners has been achieved during the wireless useridentification in the embodiment described above (see FIG. 10), theconfusion that might otherwise result when a plurality of partners withwhom wireless communication is enabled are present in the vicinity ofthe electronic apparatus is prevented.

Since the user is selected from the pre-registered users if wirelesscommunication with a plurality of partners has been achieved during thewireless user identification in the embodiment described above (see FIG.10), the confusion that might otherwise result when a plurality ofpartners with whom wireless communication is enabled are present in thevicinity of the electronic apparatus is prevented.

Since the predetermined default user is set as the current user ifwireless communication has not been achieved with any partner during thewireless user identification in the embodiment described above (see FIG.10), even a user who is not capable of transferring his personalinformation data to the electronic apparatus can operate the electronicapparatus at the default settings.

Since the electronic apparatus can be operated at the settingscorresponding to the most recent user without executing a useridentification if the MODE dial 19 is set to “fixed” in the embodimentdescribed above (see FIG. 10), the confusion that might otherwise resultwhen a plurality of partners with whom wireless communication is enabledare present in the vicinity of the electronic apparatus is prevented.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 11), if wirelesscommunication with a plurality of partners has been achieved during thewireless user identification, communication is attempted by graduallyadjusting the transmission output from low to high and the first userwith whom communication is achieved is selected as the current user. Asa result, the partner most likely to be the current user (the partnerpresent over the shortest distance from the electronic apparatus) can beselected and the confusion that might otherwise result when a pluralityof partners with whom wireless communication is enabled are present inthe vicinity of the electronic apparatus is prevented.

Since the user is selected in conformance to the predetermined priorityorder if wireless communication with a plurality of partners has beenachieved during the wireless user identification in the embodimentdescribed above (see FIG. 11), a partner likely to be the current usercan be selected and the confusion that might otherwise result when aplurality of partners with whom wireless communication is enabled arepresent in the vicinity of the electronic apparatus is prevented.

Since the names of the last user and the current user are displayed onlyif the last user does not match the current user as a result of the useridentification in the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 10, 12 and13), no unnecessary display is brought up when a single user iscontinuously operating the electronic apparatus and, in addition, anappropriate action (registration setting) can be promptly taken manuallyif a user has been erroneously identified.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 14), the electronicapparatus can be initialized to the custom settings set in advance for agiven user through a single action, and thus, the camera can be set tothe user's preferred settings promptly to correspond to a specificphotographing condition.

Since the name of the identified user remains on display at the screenin the embodiment described above (see FIG. 16 and the like), anappropriate action (registration setting) can be manually taken promptlyeven when the user has been erroneously identified.

When registering a new user, the names of the partners with whomwireless communication has been achieved are brought up on displayed atthe screen and the user himself selects the name of the user to be newlyregistered in the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 21 and 23) and,as a result, the user to be newly registered can be specified with ahigh degree of reliability.

Since the user automatically identified by the camera can be manuallychanged in the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 21 and 25), anappropriate action can be promptly taken manually even when the wronguser has been identified by the camera.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 32), the communicationpartner reporting the highest-reception-signal level among a pluralityof partners with whom wireless communication has been achieved isselected as the current user during the wireless user identificationand, as a result, the partner most likely to be the current user (thepartner present at the shortest distance from the electronic apparatus)can be selected, thereby preventing the confusion which might otherwiseresult when a plurality of partners with whom wireless communication isenabled are present in the vicinity of the electronic apparatus.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 33), the communicationpartner with the lowest transmission signal attenuation rate among aplurality of partners with whom wireless communication has been achievedis selected as the current user during the wireless user identificationand, as a result, the partner most likely to be the current user (thepartner present at the shortest distance from the electronic apparatus)can be selected, thereby preventing the confusion which might otherwiseresult when a plurality of partners with whom wireless communication isenabled are present in the vicinity of the electronic apparatus.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 34), the communicationpartner who has operated the electronic apparatus most recently among aplurality of partners with whom wireless communication has been achievedis selected as the current user during the wireless user identificationand, as a result, the partner most likely to be the current user can beselected, thereby preventing the confusion which might otherwise resultwhen a plurality of partners with whom wireless communication is enabledare present in the vicinity of the electronic apparatus.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 35 and 36), the directivityof the wireless communication in the electronic apparatus is restrictedalong the direction in which the operator of the electronic apparatus islikely to be present relative to the position of the electronicapparatus main unit by using an electromagnetic shield or the like and,as a result, the likelihood of wireless communication being achievedwith the true user is increased and the likelihood of wirelesscommunication being achieved with parties other than the true user isreduced during the user identification executed through a wirelesscommunication, thereby preventing the confusion which might otherwiseresult when a plurality of partners with whom wireless communication isenabled are present in the vicinity of the electronic apparatus.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 37 and 38), thecommunication partner who is present within the shortest distance fromthe electronic apparatus among a plurality of partners with whomwireless communication has been achieved is selected as the current userduring the wireless user identification and, as a result, the partnermost likely to be the current user can be selected, thereby preventingthe confusion which might otherwise result when a plurality of partnerswith whom wireless communication is enabled are present in the vicinityof the electronic apparatus.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 39 and 40), if wirelesscommunication has been achieved with a plurality of partners during thewireless user identification, the names of the partners with whomcommunication has been achieved are brought up on display at the screenand then the user himself is allowed to select the true user from thepartners on display. As a result, the correct user can be specified witha high degree of reliability and the confusion that might otherwiseresult when a plurality of partners with whom wireless communication isenabled are present in the vicinity of the electronic apparatus isprevented.

Since the user identification is executed by detecting that theelectronic apparatus is held by the user in the embodiment describedabove (see FIG. 41), the user identification is executed only if thereis a user who is bound to be operating the electronic apparatus andthus, an erroneous user identification resulting from wirelesscommunication achieved with a non-user partner when there is no trueuser present in the vicinity of the electronic apparatus is prevented.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 42), the user identificationis executed over predetermined time intervals. As a result, achange-over of the user taking place when the power to the electronicapparatus is on can be automatically detected with a high degree ofreliability and the electronic apparatus can be set for operation by thenew user.

Since no user identification is executed through the short-distancewireless communication in an operating mode in which a true user is notlikely to be in the vicinity of the electronic apparatus in theembodiment described above (see FIG. 42), the risk of erroneouslyidentifying a party other than the true user as the current user isreduced.

Since the operational settings and the display settings are selected forthe electronic apparatus in conformance to the extent of expertise of agiven user in handling the electronic apparatus which is indirectlyassessed based upon the general personal information on the user(information bearing no direct relevance to the electronic apparatus) inthe embodiment described above (see FIGS. 43 and 44), unexperiencedusers (e.g. seniors and children) unaccustomed to handling electronicapparatuses can use the electronic apparatus through an easy and simpleoperation and, at the same time, users in the age group likely to befamiliar with handling electronic apparatuses can utilize the electronicapparatus in a more advanced application through manual settings and thelike.

Since the diopter adjustment of the viewfinder is executed based uponthe information indicating the user's visual acuity in the embodimentdescribed above (see FIGS. 45 and 46), it is not necessary to manuallyperform a viewfinder diopter adjustment each time one of a plurality ofusers sharing the camera operates the camera and, as a result, aphotographing operation can be started promptly without missing a goodphoto opportunity.

Since the electronic apparatus communicates with an instrument worn bythe user through the hand of the user holding the electronic apparatusin the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 47 and 48), the user can beidentified with a high degree of reliability. Alternatively, theelectronic instrument may be embedded in the body of the user.

Since the electronic apparatus includes a read circuit that reads anon-contact IC card (wireless tag) and thus is able to perform anon-contact read of the personal information from the non-contact ICcard (wireless tag) in the embodiment described above (see FIG. 49), thepersonal information on the user carrying a light weight and compactnon-contact IC card that does not require a power supply is provided tothe electronic apparatus without requiring the user to perform anyspecial operation and thus, the electronic apparatus can be operatedwith the settings preferred by the user.

Examples of Variations

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described aboveand allows for a number of variations and modifications.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 9), communication with theelectronic instrument (a portable telephone, a wireless tag) carried bythe user is attempted from the electronic apparatus (electronic camera)side for user identification. However, an operating member that executesa trial communication may be provided at the user-side electronicinstrument so that the electronic apparatus near the electronicinstrument responds only when the user operates the operating member toenable transmission of the user personal information to the electronicapparatus, instead.

FIG. 50 illustrates the sequence of a wireless communication exchangebetween an electronic instrument carried by the user and the electronicapparatus that the user wishes to utilize, which is initiated on theelectronic instrument side. The electronic instrument is a portabletelephone 160 shown in FIG. 52 at which a UIM card or the like is loadedand thus the personal information on the user carrying the portabletelephone 160 is stored and saved. The portable telephone 160 includes adisplay screen 161 and operating buttons 162. As shown in FIG. 51, anelectronic camera A, an electronic camera B, a printer A and a scanner Aare present in the vicinity of the electronic instrument, and the usercarrying the electronic instrument (the portable telephone 160) wishingto use an electronic apparatus (the electronic camera A) first operatesan operating button 162 at the portable telephone 160 to set theportable telephone 160 in the communication mode, whereby variouscategories of electronic apparatuses that may be used are brought ondisplay at the display screen 161, as shown in FIG. 53, to allow theuser to select the category of the electronic apparatus he wishes to usewith a selection member (not shown). FIG. 53 presents an example of adisplay in which the electronic camera is selected as the category ofthe electronic apparatus the user wishes to use.

Once the category of the electronic apparatus that the user wishes toutilize is the selected, the electronic instrument transmits electronicinstrument identification information, information indicating theselected category and the user identification information to theelectronic apparatuses present in the vicinity of the electronicinstrument together with a utilization state information request 1.Among the electronic apparatuses having received the utilization stateinformation request 1 from the electronic instrument, any electronicapparatus that does not belong to the category indicated by the categoryinformation does not return any response. However, if a given electronicapparatus fits into the category indicated by the category information,the electronic apparatus verifies the current utilization state (i.e.whether or not the user indicated by the user information can use theapparatus) and then executes communication 2 to transmit the utilizationstate information, resulting from the verification, to which both theidentification information of the sender electronic apparatus and theelectronic instrument information corresponding to the recipient areappended.

The electronic instrument corresponding to the electronic instrumentinformation that has received the utilization state information 2 fromeligible electronic apparatuses displays their utilization states, i.e.,the identities of the electronic apparatuses that are available for use,as shown in FIG. 54, at the display screen 161 and then automaticallyselects a single electronic apparatus based upon, for instance, varyingdistances between the electronic instrument and the electronicapparatuses. Alternatively, the user may be allowed to select thespecific category of the electronic apparatus that he wishes to use witha selection member (not shown). FIG. 54 presence an example of a displayin which the electronic camera A is selected as the electronic apparatusto be used.

After the electronic apparatus to be used is selected at the electronicinstrument, the electronic instrument issues a utilization request tothe selected electronic apparatus by transmitting the identificationinformation corresponding to the selected electronic apparatus, theidentification information corresponding to the sender electronicinstrument and the user personal information through a communication 3.Upon receiving the utilization request 3, the electronic apparatusselected by the electronic instrument performs a custom settingoperation for the electronic apparatus based upon the user personalinformation and also, it sends a verification notification attached withthe identification information corresponding to the sender electronicapparatus and the identification information corresponding to therecipient electronic instrument through a communication 4 with theelectronic instrument that has transmitted the utilization state. Uponreceiving the verification notification 4, the electronic instrument,i.e., the recipient of the verification notification, displays a messageindicating that the selected electronic apparatus is now available foruse at the display screen 161, as shown in FIG. 55, for the user.Subsequently, the user can operate the electronic apparatus at thesettings customized for his use.

Since this allows the electronic apparatus to verify with a high degreeof reliability that the electronic instrument having initiated a trialcommunication belongs to a user, an erroneous user identification can beprevented and, at the same time, since the electronic apparatus is ableto execute the user identification with arbitrary timing, the currentuser of the electronic apparatus can be effectively identified evenafter a user has changed-over.

The user-side electronic instrument, having received the electronicapparatus utilization information from an electronic apparatus (e.g.,information indicating that the electronic apparatus is currently beingused by another person, information indicating that only limited usersare allowed use of the electronic apparatus), makes a decision as towhether or not the user can use this particular electronic apparatus. Ifthe user-side electronic instrument decides that there is a singleelectronic apparatus in its vicinity that can be used by the user, thiselectronic apparatus is selected as the apparatus to be used by the userand transmits a message indicating that the user's intention to use theelectronic apparatus and the user personal information to the electronicapparatus. Upon receiving the message indicating the user's intention touse the electronic apparatus and the user personal information from theelectronic instrument, the electronic apparatus identifies the usercarrying the electronic instrument as the user of the electronicapparatus and customizes the settings of the electronic apparatus forthe user based upon the user personal information.

If the user-side electronic instrument determines that there are aplurality of electronic apparatuses in its vicinity that can be used bythe user, it automatically selects the electronic apparatus that theuser most likely wishes to use through a method similar to any of thoseadopted in the embodiment (the electronic apparatus present at theshortest distance, the electronic apparatus which is highest in thepriority order, manual selection, etc.) and transmits a messageindicating the user's intention to use the electronic apparatus and theuser personal information to the selected electronic apparatus. Uponreceiving the message indicating the user's intention to use theelectronic apparatus and the user personal information from theelectronic instrument, the electronic apparatus identifies the usercarrying the electronic instrument as the user of the electronicapparatus and customizes the settings of the electronic apparatus forthe user based upon the user personal information.

Alternatively, if the user-side electronic instrument determines thatthere are a plurality of electronic apparatuses in its vicinity that canbe used by the user, it may transmits a message indicating the user'sintention to use the electronic apparatus and the user personalinformation to the plurality of electronic apparatuses. In this case,upon receiving the message indicating the user's intention and thepersonal information from the electronic instrument, each of theplurality of electronic apparatuses identifies the user carrying theelectronic instrument as the user of the electronic apparatus and, as aresult, the settings at the plurality of electronic apparatuses aresimultaneously customized for the user based upon the user personalinformation. Thus, the need to execute the user identification at eachelectronic apparatus is eliminated when the user wishes to use aplurality of electronic apparatuses at the same time.

As another alternative, the user-side electronic instrument mayimmediately transmit a message indicating the user's intention and theuser personal information to any electronic apparatus in its vicinitywithout verifying the number of electronic apparatuses in its vicinitythat can be used by the user. In this case, each electronic apparatushaving received the message indicating the user's intention to use andthe personal information from the electronic instrument identifies theuser carrying the electronic instrument as the user of the electronicapparatus and, as a result, the settings at a plurality of electronicapparatuses or a single electronic apparatus can be customized for theuser based upon the user personal information. While this does not allowthe user to select a specific electronic apparatus for use, iteliminates the step in which a decision is made as to whether or not agiven electronic apparatus is available for use by the user and, forthis reason, it is effective in a situation in which the user urgentlyneeds to operate an electronic apparatus customized for his use.

In addition, the electronic apparatus automatically selected by theuser-side electronic instrument may be displayed at the display unit ofthe electronic instrument for user verification. Alternatively, a listof electronic apparatuses available for use by the user may be displayedat the user-side electronic instrument based upon the results of thecommunication to allow the user to select the electronic apparatus hewishes to use.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 9), the user identificationis achieved through a wireless (electromagnetic wave) communicationbetween the electronic apparatus and the electronic instrument carriedby the user. However, during this process, a redundant communicationwith an electronic instrument carried by a party other than the trueuser should be prevented by keeping the wireless transmission signaloutput level within a range lower than a predetermined value and thus,limiting the communication-enabled distance range based upon theassumption that electronic instruments have the average receptioncapability. This distance range is determined by taking intoconsideration the standard manner in which the electronic apparatus isoperated, whether or not an object that blocks the electromagnetic wavesis present between the electronic apparatus and the electronicinstrument, the performance of the receiver at the electronic instrumentand the like. It is desirable to set the range equal to or less thanapproximately 10 m under normal circumstances and to set the range equalto or less than 2 m and preferably equal to or less than 1 m in the caseof an electronic apparatus that is primarily operated by the usercarrying the apparatus.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 9), the user identificationis achieved through a wireless (electromagnetic wave) communicationbetween the electronic apparatus and the electronic instrument carriedby the user. However, the user identification may be instead achievedthrough either a non-contact method or a contact method other thanwireless communication. In addition, by combining a contact-type useridentification method (e.g., finger print detection) or a non-contactuser identification method (e.g., pupil pattern detection, retinapattern detection, face image detection or voiceprint detection), bothachieved based upon physical characteristics of the user, with thewireless user detection method that uses the electromagnetic wavedescribed above, an even more reliable user identification is enabled.By adopting such a combined method, the electronic apparatus detects theuser's physical characteristics and then identifies the communicationpartner whose physical characteristics read out from his electronicinstrument present in the vicinity of the electronic apparatus throughwireless communication match the detected physical characteristics asthe true user.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 9), the user identificationis executed through wireless communication between the electronicapparatus and the electronic instrument carried by the user and the userverifies that he has been identified by the electronic apparatus bychecking the user name displayed at the screen of the electronicapparatus. Instead, the electronic apparatus information may betransmitted by the electronic apparatus to the electronic instrument ofthe user identified by the electronic apparatus and the user'sinstrument, upon receiving the information, may display at the user-sideelectronic instrument, information indicating specifically whichelectronic apparatus has identified the user. In addition, theelectronic instrument may notify the user that he has been identified byan electronic apparatus by utilizing a means for sound generation. Insuch a case, one of various sound patterns may be used in correspondenceto a specific electronic apparatus type so that a user can ascertain thetype of electronic apparatus which has identified him without having tocheck the display.

By adopting the structure described above, it becomes possible for theuser to verify that he has been correctly identified by an electronicapparatus that does not include a means for display. In addition, suchan audio notification allows the user to verify that he has beencorrectly identified by an electronic apparatus even if his electronicinstrument does not include a means for display while keeping theelectronic instrument in his pocket or the like.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 11), the electronicapparatus wirelessly communicates with an electronic instrument carriedby a user, and if a plurality of users are detected as a result, theelectronic apparatus attempts communication with the electronicinstruments by gradually increasing the transmission output and selectsthe user able to use the electronic apparatus with whom communication isachieved initially, as the correct user. However, the electronicapparatus may attempt communication with electronic instruments bygradually increasing the transmission output from the initial state andselect the user able to use the electronic apparatus with whomcommunication is achieved first as the correct user, instead.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 41), the user identificationis executed with the timing with which the electronic apparatus is heldby the user. However, the user identification may instead be executedthrough another method or with timing other than that used in theembodiment. For instance, the user identification may be executed withtiming with which a given operating member of the electronic apparatusis operated (e.g., the timing with which the shutter release button 16of the electronic camera 100 is pressed half way down). Since thisallows the user identification to be executed at time when the user ofthe electronic apparatus is surely present in the vicinity of theelectronic apparatus, a reliable user identification is achieved and, atthe same time, the need for a special detection sensor such as a gripsensor is eliminated. Alternatively, a pair of elements, i.e., a lightemitting element and a light-receiving element may be provided near theeyepiece unit of the viewfinder 11 to execute the user identificationwith the timing with which an increase in the quantity of reflectedlight is detected as a user moves his eyes or face closer to theeyepiece unit. As a further alternative, the user identification may beexecuted with the timing with which the memory card 104 is detached.Furthermore, the user identification may be executed with the timingwith which the photographic lens is replaced, a zooming operation isperformed, a focusing operation is performed or an external strobe isdetached/attached in the electronic camera.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 42), no user identificationis executed if the electronic apparatus is set in the remote controlmode. However, the remote control device may be equipped with a useridentification function, instead. In this case, a user identification isenabled even in the remote control mode and, at the same time, it is notnecessary to execute the user identification at individual electronicapparatuses when a plurality of electronic apparatuses are controlled byusing a single remote control device.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 43), the camera settingoperation and the display operation are customized based upon thepersonal information on the user identified by the electronic apparatus.However, processing other than the camera setting operation and thedisplay operation may be executed in conformance to the personalinformation which has been obtained.

For instance, the functions of operating members may be changed (e.g.,the functions of the shutter release button 16 and the power switch 17in FIG. 2 may be switched) in conformance to the information indicatingthe user's favored hand (left-handed or right-handed). The level offorce (resistance) required to depress the shutter release button 16 maybe adjusted in correspondence to the age or gender of the user.Moreover, any portion of the display on the screen that uses differenthues may instead be displayed with varying levels of contrast if theuser has a vision problem such as color blindness.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 9), the electronic camera100 communicates with the electronic instrument carried by thephotographer (user) and identifies the photographer operating theelectronic camera 100. However, the electronic camera 100 may insteadcommunicate with an electronic instrument carried by a subject to setthe operations of the electronic camera 100 in conformance to thepersonal information of the subject.

In this case, the electronic camera 100 engages in wirelesscommunication with electronic instruments in the vicinity and eliminatesthe electronic instrument that appears to be carried by the photographeramong the electronic instruments with which communication has beenachieved, for instance. The photographer's electronic instrument may bepre-registered at the electronic camera 100, or the electronicinstrument present at the shortest distance from the electronic camera100 may be identified as the electronic instrument carried by thephotographer and thus eliminated. Next, the electronic camera 100 setsthe distance range over which the subject of the electronic camera 100should be present by using information indicating the photographic lensfocal length or information indicating the photographic lensphotographing distance and then selects the electronic instrumentcarried by the user (subject) of the electronic camera 100 presentwithin the subject distance range from the electronic camera 100 amongthe electronic instruments with which wireless communication has beenachieved based upon information related to the distances between theelectronic camera 100 and the electronic instruments (the signal levels,the position information or the like). During this process, thephotographing direction and the photographic field angle of theelectronic camera 100 may be determined based upon azimuth informationdetected by a means for azimuth detection internally provided at theelectronic camera 100 and the information indicating the photographiclens focal length, and the positions (the directions of the electronicinstruments relative to the electronic camera 100 may be calculatedbased upon information indicating the measured positions (positioninformation) of the electronic camera 100 and the electronic instrumentsso as to select the electronic instrument present within thephotographic field angle along the photographing direction.

By selecting the electronic instrument carried by a party other than thephotographer, i.e., the subject, as described above and, selectivelyengaging in wireless communication with the electronic instrument, theelectronic camera 100 may obtain data indicating the color of the irisesof the subject so that if any red-eye phenomenon occurs in the imagedata obtained by photographing the subject, the portion of the imagedata corresponding to the red-eye can be touched up by using the pupilcolor data.

In addition, the personal information may include data indicatingwhether or not the red-eye phenomenon tends to occur readily so that theelectronic camera 100 can automatically set itself in a red-eyereproduction mode (a mode for reducing the extent of the red-eyephenomenon by emitting a small quantity of light at the strobe prior toa photographing operation and causing the pupils of the subject tocontract) to perform a strobe photographing operation if the personalinformation obtained from the subject indicates that the user tends toinduce the red-eye phenomenon readily. Furthermore, the personalinformation does not necessarily need to include direct data indicatingwhether or not the red-eye phenomenon tends to occur readily and,instead, it may include indirect data obtained by deducing thelikelihood of the red-eye phenomenon based upon the general personalinformation such as the user's age and visual acuity. For instance,statistically, young children and myopic people tend to have largepupils and thus are likely to induce the red-eye phenomenon.Accordingly, the camera is forcibly set in the red-eye reproduction modewhen photographing a young child or a myopic person. As an alternativemeans to a strobe light emission for causing the pupils to contract, alamp or a very bright LED capable of continuously providing illuminationover a predetermined length of time may be set in an ON statecontinuously prior to the photographing operation.

The first embodiment described above, in which a prompt useridentification is achieved without placing a great onus on the user byidentifying the user through wireless communication and the user highlylikely to be the true user is automatically selected if a plurality ofuser candidates are detected wirelessly, enables the user to promptlystart operating the electronic apparatus such as an electronic camerawithout having to perform any time-consuming tasks.

In addition, since the settings and the display at the electronicapparatus are adjusted by automatically optimizing them for use by thespecific user in conformance to the general personal information bearingno direct relevance to the electronic apparatus settings, which theelectronic apparatus has obtained from the user, an environment thatallows inexperienced users, seniors and children as well as seasonedusers to operate the electronic apparatus with ease and comfort isprovided.

Second Embodiment

The second embodiment of the present invention is now explained inreference to the drawing. In the conceptual diagram of the secondembodiment of the present invention presented in FIG. 56, an electroniccamera that photographs a subject present within the photographing rangealso obtains related information from the subject and an informationsource present in the vicinity of the camera through wirelesscommunication. In addition, the information related to the subject,which is made to correspond to the position of the subject within thephotographic image plane, is appended to the image data obtained throughthe photographing operation together with other related information toconstitute an image file.

When reproducing an image file, the image data having been obtainedthrough a photographing operation are first reproduced and displayed asa home screen. Then, as the position within the image plane is specifiedat the home screen, the information related to the subject reproducedand displayed at the position is displayed at the screen. From therelated information thus displayed, further related information linkedwith the information can be brought up on display.

FIG. 57 is a conceptual diagram of an electronic camera adopting thepresent invention and an electronic image communication system achievedby utilizing the electronic camera. In FIG. 56, an electronic camera 100that includes a memory card saves electronic image data or digital imagedata (hereafter referred to as image data) obtained by photographing aphotographic field contained within a photographic image plane in apredetermined size into a memory card. In addition, the electroniccamera 100 has a short-distance wireless communication function (e.g.,Bluetooth (registered trademark) enabling communication within a rangeof approximately a 10 meters) and engages in communication with aportable telephone 160 that also has a short-distance wirelesscommunication function. It is assumed that this portable telephone 160is carried by a subject, i.e., a person to be photographed by theelectronic camera 100 and that a UIM card (user identification modulecard) 170 having stored therein user personal information, that can beloaded at the portable telephone 160. In addition, the portabletelephone 160 is internally provided with a means for positionalmeasurement (a means for positional detection such as a GPS) unit.

When the person, i.e., the subject, is photographed with the electroniccamera 100, the personal information of the subject is transferred tothe electronic camera 100 through communication between the electroniccamera 100 and the portable telephone 160 carried by the subject. Inaddition, the electronic camera 100 detects the position of the subjectwithin the photographic image plane through a method which is to bedetailed later and stores an image file constituted of a set of theimage-plane position information and the personal information as well asthe image data obtained through the photographing operation into thememory card. The electronic camera 100 also transfers the image file toa personal computer 140 for personal use or an image server 150 via awireless base station 120 through a wireless portable telephone line 190and then via a wired or wireless public telephone line or the Internet130.

The electronic camera 100 includes a liquid crystal display screen atwhich an image file can be reproduced and displayed by reading out theimage file saved in the memory card. In addition, the electronic camera100 is capable of accessing various information servers and informationsites based upon the information related to the subject via the wirelessportable telephone line 190 and the Internet 130, obtaining detailedinformation on the subject and reproducing and displaying the detailedinformation at the liquid crystal display screen.

The personal computer 140 for personal use includes a CRT display screenat which an image file can be reproduced and displayed by reading outthe image file saved at the image server 150. The personal computer 140for personal use is also capable of accessing various informationservers and information sites based upon the information related to thesubject via the Internet 130, obtaining detailed information on thesubject and reproducing and displaying the detailed information at theCRT display screen.

FIGS. 58 and 59 present external views (a front view and a rear view) ofthe electronic camera 100 in FIG. 57, as achieved in an embodiment. Asshown in FIG. 58, at the front of the electronic camera 100, aphotographic lens 10 which forms a subject image, a viewfinder 11through which the photographic image plane is checked, a strobe 12 usedto illuminate the subject during a photographing operation, aphotometering circuit 13 that detects the brightness of the subject anda grip portion 14 that projects out from the camera main body to allowthe electronic camera 100 to be held by hand are provided, whereas ashutter release button 16 operated to issue an instruction for aphotographing start and a power switch 17 (a momentary switch which isalternately set to ON and OFF each time it is operated) through whichthe on/off state of the power to the electronic camera 100 is controlledare provided at the upper side of the camera.

As shown in FIG. 59, at the rear of the electronic camera 100, aneyepiece unit of the viewfinder 11, a left LCD (left screen) 21 having asubstantially quadrangular screen for text and image display and a rightLCD (right screen) 22 having a substantially quadrangular screen fortext and image display are provided, and an up button 23 and a downbutton 24 for switching the image displayed at the left screen 21 areprovided in the vicinity of, and to the left of the left LCD 21, whereasthe photographing mode button 25 operated to set the electronic camera100 in a photographing mode, a reproduction mode button 26 operated toset the electronic camera 100 in a reproduction mode, an informationdisplay mode button 27 operated to set the electronic camera 100 in aninformation display mode and a CONFIRM button 29 used to set a selectionitem are provided around the right screen 22 and the left screen 21. Ata side surface, a memory card slot 30 at which a memory card 104 may beloaded is provided.

It is to be noted that the shutter release button 16, the up button 23,the down button 24, the photographing mode button 25, the reproductionmode button 26, the information display mode button 27, the SEND button28 and the CONFIRM button 29 are all operating keys operated by theuser.

It is also to be noted that over the surfaces of the left screen 21 andthe right screen 22, so-called touch tablets 66 having a function ofoutputting position data corresponding to a position indicated through afinger contact operation are provided, and they can be used to make aselection from selection items displayed on the screens or to select asubject displayed on the screen. The touch tablets 66 are eachconstituted of a transparent material such as a glass resin so that theuser can observe images and text formed inside the touch tablets 66through the touch tablets 66.

In the block diagram in FIG. 60, which presents an example of aninternal electrical structure that may be assumed in the electroniccamera 100 shown in FIGS. 58 and 59, various components are connectedwith one another via a data/control bus 51 through which various typesof information data and control data are transmitted.

The components are divided into the following five primary blocks, i.e.,a block, the core of which is a photographing control circuit 60 thatexecutes an image data photographing operation, a block, the core ofwhich is constituted of a wireless communication circuit 710 thatcommunicates with electronic instruments in the vicinity of theelectronic camera 100 through wireless communication (Bluetooth or thelike) and a wireless telephone circuit 720 that exchanges data with theoutside through a wireless portable telephone line, a block constitutedof the memory card 104 in which image files are stored and saved, ablock, the core of which is a screen control circuit 92 that executesdisplay of image data and information related to the image data and ablock, the core of which is constituted of user interfaces such asoperating keys 65 and a CPU 50 that implements integrated control onvarious control circuits.

The CPU 50 (central processing unit), which is a means for implementingoverall control on the electronic camera 100, issues variousinstructions for the photographing control circuit 60, the wirelesscommunication circuit 710, the wireless telephone circuit 720, thescreen control circuit 92 and a power control circuit 64 in conformanceto information input from the operating keys 65, the touch tablets 66,various detection circuits 70, the power switch 17, a timer 74, thephotometering circuit 13, a GPS circuit 61 and an attitude detectioncircuit 62.

An audio recording circuit 80 records sound generated by the subjectduring a photographing operation and sound made by the photographerafter the photographing operation as a memorandum as audio data inconformance to control implemented by the CPU 50, and such audio dataare stored in the image file together with the image data. An audioreproduction circuit 81 reproduces the audio data which are stored inthe image file together with the image data during an image datareproduction or other audio data, in conformance to control implementedby the CPU 50.

The photometering circuit 13 measures the brightness of the subject andoutputs photometric data indicating the results of the measurement tothe CPU 50. In conformance to the photometric data, the CPU 50 sets thelength of the exposure time and the sensitivity of a CCD 55 through aCCD drive circuit 56, and in addition, it controls the aperture valuefor an aperture 53 with an aperture control circuit 54 via thephotographing control circuit 60 in conformance to the data indicatingthe settings.

In the photographing mode, the CPU 50 controls the photographingoperation via the photographing control circuit 60 in response to anoperation of the shutter release button 15. If the photometric dataindicate a low subject brightness, the CPU 50 engages the strobe 12 in alight emission operation via a strobe drive circuit 73 during thephotographing operation.

The 61 (global positioning system circuit) detects informationindicating the position of the electronic camera 100 by usinginformation provided by a plurality of satellites orbiting around theearth and provides the photographing position information to the CPU 50when an image is photographed. The attitude change detection circuit 62,which is constituted of an attitude sensor of the known art (a gyrosensor, an azimuth sensor or the like) capable of detecting the attitudeof the electronic camera 100, detects information indicating the cameraattitude and provides the photographing attitude information to the CPU50 during the image photographing operation.

The timer 74 having an internal clock circuit detects informationindicating a current time point and provides the photographing timepoint (day and time) information to the CPU 50 when a photographingoperation is executed, the CPU 50 controls the various units inconformance to a control program stored in a ROM 67 (read only memory).In an EEPROM 68 (electrically erasable/programmable ROM) which is anonvolatile memory, the setting information and the like necessary forthe operations of the electronic camera 100 are stored. The CPU 50implements control on a power supply 63 via the power control circuit 64by detecting the operating state of the power switch 17.

The photographing control circuit 60 focuses or zooms the photographiclens 10 through a lens drive circuit 52, controls the exposure quantityat the CCD 55 through control implemented on the aperture 53 by engagingthe aperture control circuit 54 and thus controls the operation of theCCD 55 through the CCD drive circuit 56. The photographic lens 10 formsa subject image onto the CCD 55 with a light flux from the subject viathe aperture 53 which adjusts the light quantity. This subject image iscaptured by the CCD 55. The CCD 55 (charge-coupled device) having aplurality of pixels is a charge storage type image sensor that capturesa subject image, and outputs electrical image signals corresponding tothe intensity of the subject image formed on the CCD 55 to an analogprocessing unit 57 in response to a drive pulse supplied by the CCDdrive circuit 56. It is to be noted that the photographic fieldcontained inside the angle of field which is determined by the effectiveimage plane size at the CCD 55 and the focal length of the photographiclens 10 is photographed into the photographic image plane as image data.

The photographing control circuit 60 repeatedly executes the operationdescribed above and, concurrently, the screen control circuit 92repeatedly executes an operation in which the digital data sequentiallystored into a photographic buffer memory 59 are read out via thedata/control bus 51. The digital data thus read out are temporarilystored into a frame memory 69, the digital data are converted to displayimage data and are restored into the frame memory 69 and the displayimage data are displayed at the left screen 21. In addition, the screencontrol circuit 92 obtains text display information from the CPU 50 asnecessary, converts it to display text data which are then stored intothe frame memory 69 and displays the display text data at the leftscreen 21 or the right screen 22. Since the image currently captured bythe CCD 55 is displayed at the left screen 21 in real time in thephotographing mode in this manner, the user is able to set thecomposition for the photographing operation by using this through screenas a monitor screen.

The photographing control circuit 60 detects the state of the focaladjustment at the photographic lens 10 by analyzing the degree of thehigh-frequency component of the digital data stored in the photographicbuffer memory 59 and performs a focal adjustment for the photographiclens 10 with the lens drive circuit 52 based upon the results of thedetection.

During a photographing operation, upon receiving a photographinginstruction from the CPU 50, the photographing control circuit 60engages the CCD 55 to capture a subject image via the CCD drive circuit56 and temporarily stores image signals generated through theimage-capturing operation as digital data (raw data) into thephotographic buffer memory 59 via the analog processing unit 57 and theA/D conversion circuit 58. The photographing control circuit 60 thengenerates image data by converting or compressing the digital datastored in the photographic buffer memory 59 on a temporary basis in apredetermined recording format (such as JPEG) and stores the image databack into the photographic buffer memory 59.

The CPU 50 communicates with the electronic instrument such as aportable telephone carried by the subject via the wireless communicationcircuit 710 to collect information related to the subject and also toobtain information indicating the position of the electronic instrument.In addition, the CPU 50 obtains the photographing position informationfrom the GPS circuit 61, the photographing attitude information from theattitude detection circuit 62 and the focal length information withregard to the focal length of the photographic lens 10 from thephotographing control circuit 60 and executes an arithmetic operation toobtain image-plane position information indicating the subject positionwithin the image plane through a method which is to be detailed laterbased upon the information indicating the electronic instrumentposition, the photographing position information, the photographingattitude information and the focal length information. The CPU 50 storesthe image data, the information related to the subject and the imageplane subject position information into the memory card 104 as an imagefile.

In the reproduction mode, the screen control circuit 92 reads out animage file specified by the CPU 50 from the memory card 104, temporarilystores the image file into the frame memory 69, converts the image datato display image data and stores the display image data back into theframe memory 69 and then displays the display image data at the leftscreen 21. It also stores text data of the reproduction modeinstructions and the like into the frame memory 69 and displays the textdata at the right screen 22 in response to an instruction issued by theCPU 50. In the reproduction mode, upon receiving a transmissioninstruction issued by the CPU 50, the wireless telephone circuit 720reads out the specified image file from the memory card 104 andwirelessly transmits the image file to the outside.

In the information display mode, the CPU 50 first reproduces anddisplays specific image data at the left screen 21 via the screencontrol circuit 92 as in the reproduction mode, and also brings up asuperimposed display of an information icon at the position in the imageplane of the subject corresponding to the position information. Inaddition, it displays instruction text data at the right screen 22. Ifthe information icon is selected through the touch tablet 66 in theinformation display mode, the CPU 50 accesses the information source(homepage or the like) on the Internet via the wireless telephonecircuit 720 based upon the subject-related information corresponding tothe image-plane position information, displays a screen or the like ofthe homepage at the left screen 21 and display is an operationalinstruction screen at the right screen 22.

FIG. 61 shows the data structure of image files stored in the memorycard 104. As shown in FIG. 61, a plurality of image files are saved atthe memory card 104. The image files are each constituted of image dataand additional information data. The additional information data areconstituted of photographing information data (see FIG. 62) indicatingvarious settings selected for the photographing operation, time pointinformation data indicating the photographing time point, the positioninformation data indicating the photographing position, the attitudeinformation data indicating the camera attitude during the photographingoperation, audio information data recorded during or after thephotographing operation, general information data (see FIG. 63)containing general information related to the photographing operationinput during or after the photographing operation and subjectinformation data containing information related to subjects which isentered during or after the photographing operation.

The subject information data are constituted of information related tothe subjects (each of which may be a person, a building, a landscape orthe like) photographed in the photographic image plane. For instance,the subject information data may be constituted of personal informationdata (see FIG. 64) of a subject person and general information datarelated to a subject building.

FIG. 62 shows the structure of the photographing information dataconstituted of setting information indicating the photographic lenssetting and the camera settings selected for the photographingoperation.

FIG. 63 shows the structure of the general information data constitutedof Internet access data (homepage addresses or the like) indicating howindividual sets of information may be accessed on the Internet, dataindicating the contents of the individual sets of information andposition information data indicating the positions of the originators ofthe individual sets of information.

FIG. 64 shows the structure of the personal information data constitutedof the image-plane position information indicating a specific subjectwithin the image plane to which the personal information corresponds,position information indicating the position of the electronicinstrument from which the personal information has been transmitted,Internet access information data (the homepage URL and the like) of theindividual, the e-mail address of the individual, the individual's name,date of birth, preferred language, physical data (visual acuity,diopter, favored hand), tastes or person's liking (favorite color, etc.)and other data.

FIG. 65 is a transition diagram of the state assumed by the electroniccamera 100 in the embodiment of the present invention. The electroniccamera, which assumes one of the three operating modes, i.e., thephotographing mode, the reproduction mode and the information displaymode, makes a shift among the modes in response to an operation of oneof the three operating buttons (the photographing mode button 25, thereproduction mode button 26 and the information display mode button 27).As the power is turned on, the electronic camera shifts to thephotographing mode first. In the photographing mode, a photographingoperation, a wireless communication operation and an image filepreparation and storage operation are executed. In the reproductionmode, an image file reproducing operation and a transmission operationto transmit an image file to the outside are executed. In theinformation display mode, information related to the image data iscollected by, for instance, accessing the Internet based upon theadditional information data corresponding to the image data and theinformation thus collected is displayed.

FIG. 66 presents a flowchart of the main flow of the operations executedin the electronic camera 100 (the CPU 50) in the embodiment describedabove. First, the power is turned on as the power switch 17 is operatedin S10, and then, a photographing mode subroutine is executed in S20 toenter a photographing-enabled state. If the shutter release button 16 isoperated in the photographing mode, a release interrupt processingsubroutine in S30 is executed to perform a photographing operation. Inaddition, while the photographing operation is executed, a wirelessinterrupt subroutine in S40 is called up from the release interruptprocessing subroutine in S30 to engage the electronic camera in wirelesscommunication with electronic instruments present in the vicinity of theelectronic camera to collect subject information data and generalinformation data. The subject information data and the generalinformation data thus collected constitute the additional informationdata together with the photographing information data, and theadditional information data are stored together with the image data intothe memory card 104 as an image file.

If one of the three operating buttons (the photographing mode button 25,the reproduction mode button 26 and the information display mode button27) is operated in a given operating mode, mode switching interruptprocessing in S50 is started up to switch over to the mode selected incorrespondence to the operating button which has been operated.

In the reproduction mode in S60, an image file stored in the memory card104 is read out and the image data are reproduced and displayed at thedisplay screen, and if the SEND button 28 is operated, a transmissioninterrupt processing subroutine in S70 is executed to transmit the imagefile containing the image data currently reproduced in the reproductionmode to an external recipient.

In the information display mode in S80, image data are first reproducedand displayed at the display screen as detailed later and also, thesubject information itself, which includes the image-plane positioninformation corresponding to the position specified by the user throughthe touch tablet 66 on the display screen, or information collected byaccessing the Internet based upon the Internet access informationcontained in the subject information is brought on display at thedisplay screen.

In the detailed flowchart of the photographing mode subroutine presentedin FIG. 67, after the subroutine is started up in S20, the processing inS201 is repeatedly executed. In S201, image data sequentially generatedby the CCD 55 in conformance to the photographing setting conditionselected by the user are displayed at the left screen 21 as shown inFIG. 68 and the selected photographing setting condition is displayed intext at the screen LCD 22.

In the detailed flowchart of the release interrupt processing subroutinepresented in FIG. 69, after the subroutine is started up in S30, averification is achieved in S301 as to whether or not the camera iscurrently set in the photographing mode, and if it is decided that thecamera is not set in the photographing mode, the operation makes areturn in S305. If, on the other hand, it is decided that the camera isset in the photographing mode, an image-capturing operation is executedin conformance to the photographing setting condition selected by theuser in S302 to generate image data, and then the wireless communicationprocessing subroutine in S40, which is to be detailed later, is executedto generate additional information data. In S303, an image file isgenerated by incorporating the image data and the additional informationdata and the image file is saved into the memory card 104. In S304, theimage data are displayed at the screen over a predetermined length oftime, and then the operation makes a return in S305. It is to be notedthat the image data achieves a predetermined photographic image planesize so that a photographed subject is bound to be present somewherewithin this photographic image plane in accordance to the photographiccomposition.

In the detailed flowchart of the wireless communication processingsubroutine presented in FIG. 70, after the subroutine is started up inS40, a verification is achieved in S401 as to whether or not theelectronic camera is currently set in the photographing mode, and if itis decided that the camera is not set in the photographing mode, theoperation makes a return in S408. If, on the other hand, it is decidedthe camera is set in the photographing mode, a means for wirelesscommunication 710 is engaged in S402 to attempt wireless communicationwith electronic instruments in the vicinity of the electronic camera 100(a portable telephone carried by a subject person, an electronicsightseeing guide apparatus installed in the vicinity of a historicalsite and capable of transmitting sightseeing information with regard tothe historic site through wireless communication or the like). Duringthis process, the signal transmission output for the wirelesscommunication is adjusted in conformance to the focal length of thephotographic lens. For instance, since it can be assumed that thesubject is present over a long distance when the focal length is large,a signal transmission output level is set higher accordingly. If it isdecided in S403 that no communication has been achieved, the operationmakes a return in S408. If communication has been achieved, on the otherhand, the position information data indicating the electronic instrumentposition and the subject information data (or the general informationdata) are obtained through wireless communication from the electronicinstrument of the communication partner with whom communication has beenachieved in S404. In S405, the position information indicating theposition of the electronic camera 100 itself is received from the GPScircuit 61, the attitude information indicating the attitude of theelectronic camera 100 itself is received from the attitude detectioncircuit 62, and the position of the subject (electronic instrument)relative to the electronic camera 100 is determined by using theelectronic instrument position information, the position informationindicating the position of the electronic camera 100 and the attitudeinformation indicating the attitude of the electronic camera 100, asexplained later. In S407, the focal length information indicating thefocal length of the photographic lens 10 is received from thephotographing control circuit 60 and the angle of field for thephotographing operation is calculated based upon the focal lengthinformation and the effective image plane size at the image-capturingelement as detailed later, and also, based upon the position informationindicating the position of the subject relative to the electronic camera100, data indicating the position of the subject within the photographedimage plane (image-plane position information data) are generated beforethe operation makes a return in S408.

In the sequence diagram provided in FIG. 71 to facilitate an explanationof the wireless communication operation between the electronic cameraand an electronic instrument during the release interrupt processing andthe wireless communication processing, a shutter release operation isfirst performed at the electronic camera 100, a photographing operationis performed in response and then wireless communication is attempted atthe electronic camera 100 by transmitting a communication request 1 toelectronic instruments present in the vicinity. The transmission request1 includes the identification information of the electronic camera 100indicating the sender.

An electronic instrument having received the communication request 1returns a response 2 to the electronic camera 100 by transmitting theidentification information of the sender electronic instrument and theidentification information of the recipient electronic camera.

Upon receiving the response 2, the electronic camera 100 verifies thecommunication partner based upon the electronic instrumentidentification information and transmits an information request 3 sothat information related to the communication partner can be requestedby specifying the communication partner's electronic instrument. Theinformation request 3 transmitted to the electronic instrument includesthe identification information of the recipient electronic instrument,the identification information of the sender electronic camera 100, thecontents of the information being requested and the like.

The electronic instrument corresponding to the electronic instrumentidentification information included in the information request 3transmits information 4, i.e., the requested related information (theposition information, the access information, etc.) to the electroniccamera. The information 4 transmitted to the electronic camera includesthe identification information corresponding to the electronic camera100, i.e., the recipient, the identification information correspondingto the electronic instrument, i.e., the sender and the relatedinformation.

The electronic camera 100 receives the information 4 transmitted by theelectronic instrument. The electronic camera 100 sequentially issues theinformation request 3 to all the electronic instruments having respondedto the communication request 1. Upon receiving the information 4 fromall the electronic instruments, it ends the wireless communication,generates an image file and saves the image file into the memory card104.

FIGS. 72 and 73 illustrate how the image-plane position information dataindicating the position of a subject within the image plane may beobtained. The subject position information data and the photographingposition information data are provided as positional coordinates in athree-dimensional coordinate system the center of which is set at apredetermined reference origin point. First, as shown in FIG. 72, thereference coordinate system is converted to a coordinate system (an axisP: extending along the camera optical axis, an axis Q: extending alongthe lateral side of the camera, an axis R: extending along thelongitudinal side of the camera) through a parallel translation of theorigin point of the reference coordinate system to a central point 3(the photographing position) of the electronic camera 100, and thepositional coordinates of the subject 203 after the conversion aredetermined.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 73, an angle of field 5 (indicated by theone-dot-and-bar chain line) is calculated along photographic opticalaxis (along the P axis) based upon the photographic lens focal lengthinformation and the effective image plane size of the CCD. Next, thedirection in which a straight line connecting the origin point 3 and thesubject position 203 extends is calculated. By comparing the angle offield 5 and the direction of the straight line 4, a decision can be madeas to whether or not the subject is contained in the image plane and theposition of the subject within the image plane (the image-plane positioninformation data) can be calculated as shown in FIG. 74.

In the detailed flowchart of the mode switching interrupt processingsubroutine presented in FIG. 75, which is started up in response to anoperation of an operating button (the photographing mode button 25, thereproduction mode button 26 or the information display mode button 27),after the subroutine is started up in S50, a verification is achieved inS501 as to whether or not the operated button is the photographing modebutton 25 and if it is decided that the photographing mode button 25 hasbeen operated, the operation shifts to the photographing mode subroutinein S20. If, on the other hand, it is decided that the photographing modebutton 25 has not been operated, a verification is achieved in S501 asto whether or not the operated button is the reproduction mode button26, and if it is decided that the reproduction mode button 26 has beenoperated, the operation shifts to the reproduction mode subroutine inS60. If it is decided that the reproduction mode button 26 has not beenoperated, the operation shifts to the information display modesubroutine in S80.

In the detailed flowchart of the reproduction mode subroutine presentedin FIG. 76, after the subroutine is started up in S60, the processing inS601 is repeatedly executed. In S601, image data of an image fileselected from the image files stored in the memory card 104 are read outin response to an operation of the direction button 23 or 24, theselected image data are reproduced and displayed at the left screen 21and the operational instructions are displayed at the right screen 22,as shown in FIG. 77.

In the detailed flowchart of the transmission interrupt processingsubroutine presented in FIG. 78, after the subroutine is started up inS70, a verification is achieved in S701 as to whether or not theelectronic camera is currently set in the reproduction mode, and if itis decided that the electronic camera is not set in the reproductionmode, the operation makes a return in S703. If, on the other hand, it isdecided that the camera is set in the reproduction mode, potentialrecipients are displayed at the right screen 22 in S702 as shown in FIG.79. The recipients include the subject within the image currentlyreproduced and displayed at the left screen 21. Once the desiredrecipient is specified by the user, the image file containing the imagedata currently reproduced and displayed at the left screen 21 is readout from the memory card 104 and this image file is transmitted throughthe wireless telephone circuit 720 to the recipient specified by theuser before the operation makes a return in S703.

In the detailed flowchart of the information display mode subroutinepresented in FIG. 80, after the subroutine is started up in S80, thehome screen of the information display mode is first displayed in S801.In the home screen, image data are displayed at the left screen 21, asshown in FIG. 77. If the operation has shifted into the informationdisplay mode from the reproduction mode, the image data that werereproduced and displayed at the left screen 21 in the reproduction modeare kept on display, whereas if the operation has shifted into theinformation display mode from the photographing mode, the image data ofthe image file obtained through the most recent photographing operationare displayed. In addition, at the left screen 21, graphics 82 and 83indicating subject information are displayed at positions correspondingto individual sets of image-plane position information data contained inthe additional information data and also an icon 85 for bringing up adisplay of a map based upon the photographing position information data,an icon 84 for bringing up a display of news items reported on thephotographing date based upon the photographing time point informationdata and an icon 86 for bringing up a display of the general informationare displayed, all superimposed over the image data. At the right screen22, the operating instructions with respect to the left screen 21 aredisplayed.

When the user touches a desired icon at the left screen 21, the positionof the point on the screen touched by the user is detected through thetouch tablet 66 in S802 and subsequently, the operation branches to oneof the following steps in correspondence to the position on the screenthat has been touched by the user.

If the icon 85 in FIG. 81 is touched, the operation branches to S803 inwhich a map database on the Internet is accessed via the wirelesstelephone circuit 720, map data containing the photographing positionare downloaded from the map database in conformance to the photographingposition information corresponding to the image data displayed at thehome screen and the downloaded map data are displayed at the left screen21, as shown in FIG. 82. At the left screen 21, a reduction icon 87 andan enlargement 88 are superimposed over the map display and as the usertouches one of the icons, the map display is either reduced or enlargedin correspondence to the icon that has been touched. At the right screen22, a thumbnail image (reduced image) of the image data having beendisplayed at the home screen is displayed and the home screen display inS801 is restored if the user touches this thumbnail image.

If the icon 84 in FIG. 81 is touched, the operation branches to S804 inwhich a news database on the Internet is accessed via the wirelesstelephone circuit 720, news data of the news reported on thephotographing date are downloaded from the news database based upon thephotographing time point information corresponding to the image datadisplayed at the home screen and the downloaded news data are displayedat the left screen 21, as shown in FIG. 83. At the left screen 21, alist of news items and detail graphics 89 are displayed and if a usertouches a specific detail icon, details of the corresponding news itemare displayed at the left screen 21. At the right screen 22, a thumbnailimage (reduced image for pre-view) of the image data having beendisplayed at the home screen is displayed and the home screen display inS801 is restored if the user touches this thumbnail image.

If the icon 82 or the icon 83 in FIG. 81 is touched, the operationbranches to S805 in which an information source (a homepage or adatabase) where detailed information related to the subject is stored isaccessed on the Internet via the wireless telephone circuit 720 inconformance to the Internet access information data contained in thesubject information indicated by the icon and the top screen of thehomepage is brought up on display. For instance, if the icon 82 istouched, the top screen of the homepage of the subject person isdisplayed at the left screen 21, as shown in FIG. 84, to enable the userto display a screen at a lower layer or link to another homepage throughthe touch tablet 66. If, on the other hand, the icon 83 is touched, acommentary screen related to a historical structure photographed in theimage is brought up on display at the left screen 21, as shown in FIG.85, to enable the user to display a more detailed description or animage of the historical structure at the left screen 21 through thetouch tablet 66. At the right screen 22, a thumbnail image (reducedimage) of the image data having been displayed at the home screen isdisplayed and the home screen display in S801 is restored if the usertouches this thumbnail image.

In FIG. 86 illustrating the structure of the wireless communicationcircuit 710 in the electronic camera, the wireless communication circuit710 is enclosed by an electromagnetic shield film 79 along the camerarear surface (in the direction opposite from the direction along whichthe photographic optical axis extends, i.e., the side on which thephotographer is present), the camera lower surface, the camera uppersurface and the camera left and right side surfaces. Thus, the wirelesscommunication circuit 710 is allowed to communicate readily with theportable telephone 160 carried by the subject present in the directionalong which the photographing operation is performed with the camera tocollect the subject information with a high degree of reliability. Atthe same time, since it cannot readily communicate with a portableinstrument carried by a non-subject party who is not present along thephotographic optical axis, the collection of unnecessary informationirrelevant to the subject can be minimized. In FIG. 87 showing thecommunication directivity of the wireless communication circuit 710,extreme directivity manifests to the front of the electronic camera 100(along the optical axis 40) and the directivity to the rear is slight.

By allowing the wireless communication circuit 710 to manifest extremedirectivity along the direction in which the photographing operation isperformed with the camera through the structure shown in FIG. 86 asdescribed above, the likelihood of communicating with the electronicinstrument carried by the subject is increased. It is to be noted thatthe directivity may be adjusted by adopting a specific antenna structureinstead of by using an electromagnetic shield film.

In the wireless communication processing shown in FIG. 71, theelectronic camera 100 collects subject information by communicating withelectronic instruments in the vicinity during the photographingoperation. However, the subject information may be transmitted to theelectronic camera engaged in the photographing operation from asubject-side electronic instrument either before or after thephotographing operation, instead. At the portable telephone 160 carriedby the subject, such as that shown in FIG. 88, a UIM card or the likehaving stored and saved therein the personal information on the usercarrying the portable telephone 160 is loaded. The portable telephone160 includes a display screen 161 and operating buttons 162. When thesubject person wishes to transmit his personal information to theelectronic camera, the subject person first operates an operating button162 of the portable telephone 160 to set the portable telephone 160 in apersonal information transmission mode, enabling transmission of thesubject information to the electronic camera. Once the transmission iscompleted, a message indicating the recipient electronic camera and thetransmission completion is displayed at the display screen 161, as shownin FIG. 89. Since this allows the subject to decide whether or not hispersonal information should be transmitted, random circulation of thepersonal information is prevented.

In the detection of the position of the subject within the image planeshown in FIG. 73, the information indicating the electronic cameraposition and the information indicating the electronic instrumentposition detected with GPS units are utilized. However, the subjectposition within the image plane may be detected through a method otherthan this. FIG. 90 shows an example in which the subject position withinthe photographic image plane is detected by using a highly-directionalwireless antenna 75 (its directivity 43 manifests with great intensityalong a single direction 42, as shown in FIG. 91) which is utilized as acommunication antenna of the wireless communication circuit 710. It isto be noted that details of a structure that may be adopted in such acompact directional antenna are disclosed in, for instance, JapaneseLaid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-278037.

The electronic camera 100 is internally provided with thehighly-directional wireless antenna 75 and a drive unit 76 that adjuststhe direction of the highly-directional wireless antenna 75 by scanningthe highly-directional wireless antenna 75 through mechanical drive.While the wireless communication processing is in progress during thephotographing operation, the CPU 50 engages the drive unit 76 to drivethe highly-directional wireless antenna so as to scan inside thephotographic image plane and it concurrently communicates with a subjectpresent within the image plane to collect the subject information data.This makes it possible to correlate scanning position of thehighly-directional wireless antenna 75 (i.e., image-plane positioninformation data) with the subject information data.

In the detailed flowchart of the wireless communication processingsubroutine executed in conjunction with using the highly-directionalwireless antenna 75, which is presented in FIG. 92, after the subroutineis started up in S40, a verification is achieved in S411 as to whetheror not the electronic camera is currently set in the photographing mode,and if it is decided that the camera is not set in the photographingmode, the operation makes a return in S419. If, on the other hand, it isdecided that the camera is set in the photographing mode, the scanningposition of the highly-directional wireless antenna 75 is initialized inS412. It is to be noted that the image plane size is determined inconformance to the photographic lens focal length information and theCCD effective image plane size. In S413, wireless communication withelectronic instruments present in the vicinity of the electronic camera100 (a portable telephone carried by a subject person, an electronicsightseeing guide apparatus installed near a historical site and capableof transmitting sightseeing information with regard to the historicalsite through wireless communication) is attempted with the means forwireless communication 710. If it is decided in S414 that nocommunication has been achieved, the operation proceeds to S417. If, onthe other hand, communication has been achieved, the subject informationdata are obtained through wireless communication from the electronicinstrument of the communication partner with whom communication has beenachieved in S415. In S416, image-plane position information contained inthe subject information data is designated as the information indicatingthe scanning position of the highly-directional wireless antenna 75. InS417, the scanning position of the highly-directional wireless antenna75 it is updated. In S418, a verification is achieved as to whether ornot the scanning position of the highly-directional wireless antenna 75is at the end position and, if it is decided that the scanning positionis not at the end position, the operation returns to S413 to repeatedlyexecuted the operation described above, whereas if the scanning positionis at the end position, the operation makes a return in S419.

In FIG. 93 showing a display example of the home screen brought up inthe information display mode, no graphics are displayed at the leftscreen 21 unlike the example shown in FIG. 81. If the user touches thedisplay of the person or the building on the left screen, the contactposition is detected through the touch tablet 66, and the subjectinformation containing the image-plane position information datacorresponding to the contact position is brought up on display at theright screen 22, as shown and FIG. 94. In addition, on the left screen21, an arrow mark 44 is displayed at the subject position correspondingto the subject information. This allows the user to view the image datareproduced and displayed at the left screen 21 without obtrusivegraphics crowding on the screen and to review the subject information atthe right screen 22 while the image data remains on display at the leftscreen 21 and to verify the relationship between the subject informationand the subject on the image simply by touching the subject whichinterests the user at the left screen 21. In addition, it makes itpossible to display the subject information directly from thereproduction mode by integrating the information display mode and thereproduction mode.

Furthermore, the outlines of the image a subjects in the image anddisplayed may be extracted through an image analysis, so as to enable adisplay of the subject information corresponding to image-plane positioninformation data contained in an area 46 at the left screen 21 if theuser touches the area near an outline (the area 46 in the vicinity ofthe person 45 in FIG. 95). In this case, even if the user touches aposition other than the position of the electronic instrument which hastransmitted the subject information to the electronic camera, eg., ifthe user touches the face of the subject person, the subject informationcorresponding to the subject person can be brought up on display.

FIG. 96 presents a detailed flowchart of an information display modesubroutine achieved by executing additional processing between S801 andS802 in the information display mode subroutine shown in FIG. 80.Through the additional processing, the subject information contained inan image file is transplanted into a similar image file that does nothave any subject information.

After the home screen is displayed in S801, an image analysis isexecuted on the image data reproduced and displayed at the left screen21 in S811 to identify the primary subjects (a primary subject may be,for instance, a person or a building taking up a relatively large areain the image plane) and then a verification is achieved in S812 as towhether or not there is any subject information containing image-planeposition information data present in the area occupied by a primarysubject. If it is decided that there is such subject information, theoperation proceeds to S802. If, on the other hand, it is decided thatthere is no such subject information, image files with the photographingtime point data indicating the same photographing date as thephotographing date indicated by the photographing time point data of theimage data the reproduced image of which is currently on display aresearched in the memory card 104 and are extracted in S813. Next, animage analysis is executed on the image data in these files and imagedata having a subject similar to the primary subject of the image datathe reproduced image of which is currently on display are extracted.Then, a verification is achieved as to whether or not image-planeposition information is attached to the similar subject in the extractedimage data and, if any image-plane position information is attached, thesubject information containing this image-plane position information isappropriated as the subject information of the primary subject of theimage data the reproduced image of which is currently on display.Accordingly, the image file containing the image data the reproducedimage of which is currently on display is updated by attachingimage-plane position information indicating the position of the primarysubject within the image plane determined through the image analysis.

In S814, the photographing position information data, the photographingattitude information data and the focal length information data are readout from the image file containing the image data the reproduced imageof which is currently on display, and a primary subject is identifiedupon data corresponding to the information data, which are obtained froma map database on the Internet and the results of the image analysisexecuted in S813. For instance, if a triangular object appearing to be amountain is shown in an image plane photographed along a southerlydirection from the vicinity of Lake Yamanaka, the object is identifiedas Mount Fuji. After a specific primary subject is identified, a searchis conducted on the Internet by using the name of the primary subject asa keyword, access information with regard to a homepage providinginformation on the primary subject is obtained and the image filecontaining the image data the reproduced image of which is currently ondisplay is updated by appending image-plane position informationcorresponding to the position of the primary subject within the imageplane ascertained through the image analysis.

After transplanting the subject information into the image file with nosubject information from another file or from the Internet, as describedabove, the operation proceeds to S802. Thus, even when no subjectinformation related to a subject has been obtained during thephotographing operation (e.g. when there is no sightseeing guideapparatus capable of wirelessly providing subject information present inthe vicinity of the electronic camera used to photograph a landscapeimage or the like), information related to the subject can be displayedwhen the image data are reproduced in the information display modethrough this subroutine. It is to be noted that the image files searchedin S813 are not limited to those obtained on the same photographingdate. For instance, a predetermined number of image files photographedbefore and after the image file with no subject information may besearched, instead. The camera automatically identifies the subject byusing the photographing position information data, the photographingattitude information data and the focal length information data anddownloads information on the identified subject from the Internet inS814. However, the user may identify the subject by reviewing the imagedata, input or download from the Internet information on the specifiedsubject and update the image file by pasting the information onto thesubject position on the screen image instead.

FIG. 97 is another conceptual diagram of an electronic camera adoptingthe present invention and an electronic image communication systemachieved by using the electronic camera. In the electronic imagecommunication system in FIG. 57, the personal information data stored inthe UIM card 170 loaded at the portable telephone 160 are read into theelectronic camera 100 through a short-distance wireless communicationbetween the electronic camera 100 and the portable telephone 160 carriedby the user. In the electronic image communication system in FIG. 97, onthe other hand, as a wireless tag (a non-contact IC card) having storedtherein personal information data moves closer to the electronic camera100 having an internal non-contact wireless read unit, the personalinformation data are automatically read from the wireless tag into theelectronic camera 100.

As described above, the electronic image communication system shown inFIG. 97 allows the subject to communicate with the electronic camera 100simply by carrying a compact wireless tag (a non-contact IC card) whichdoes not require a power source.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 56 and 66), subjectinformation (including position information) is automaticallytransferred to the electronic camera through wireless communicationbetween the electronic camera and a portable instrument carried by thesubject during an image data photographing operation and, as a result,the need to perform a special operation to obtain the subjectinformation is eliminated. In addition, since the information indicatingthe subject position assumed at the time when the image data arephotographed can be obtained, the image-plane position information dataindicating a position accurately corresponding to the actual position onthe image plane can be obtained by using the position information. It isto be noted that the subject position information should be obtainedwithout a significant time lag relative to the timing with which thesubject is photographed (it is desirable to obtain the subject positioninformation within about 1 second prior to or following thephotographing operation) in order to ensure that a position accuratelycorresponding to the actual position on the image plane is ascertained.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 56 and 66), informationrelated to a subject in the image which interests the user viewing thereproduced image data on display can be reviewed with ease and speedsimply by touching the icon displayed in correspondence to theimage-plane position information at the screen or by touching thesubject.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 56 and 70), subjectinformation is obtained from a subject through a short-distance wirelesscommunication to raise the probability of achieving communication withthe subject present in the vicinity of the electronic camera and also toreduce the likelihood of unnecessarily communicating with an electronicinstrument that is present at a long distance from the electronic cameraand that has no relation to the subject. In addition, since the signaltransmission output level for the wireless communication is adjusted inconformance to the photographic lens focal length, a reliable wirelesscommunication with the subject is achieved and, at the same time, thelikelihood of achieving wireless communication with a party other thanthe subject is reduced.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 78), the image datareproduced and displayed in the reproduction mode can be transmitted toa transfer address indicated in subject information data obtained duringthe image data photographing operation. Thus, image data can betransmitted with ease to a stranger met by chance on a trip or the likewithout having to keep track of the postal address, the e-mail addressor the like of the stranger. This feature is particularly convenientwhen there are numerous people photographed in a group picture becauseit relieves the user from the task of performing a special operation tosend the image data to multiple recipients.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 82, etc.), when displayingsubject information specified by the user at the screen in theinformation display mode, the original image data in which the subjectis photographed are displayed (as a thumbnail image) at the same time,enabling the user to understand the relationship between the image dataand the subject intuitively, and also, the home screen display can bepromptly recovered by specifying the image data through the touch tablet66 which enables the user to quickly and easily review the subjectinformation in reference to the image data.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 86 and 87), the wirelesscommunication directivity of the wireless communication circuit 710 isrestricted so as to manifest along the direction in which the subject islikely to be present relative to the electronic apparatus main unit byusing an electromagnetic shield or the like and thus, reliable wirelesscommunication with the subject is achieved to obtain the subjectinformation wirelessly and the likelihood of achieving wirelesscommunication with a party other than the subject is reduced.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 88 and 89), a subjectinformation transmission to the electronic camera is initiated on thesubject side and, as a result, it becomes possible to preventuncontrolled circulation of personal information and the like to theoutside, as necessary.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 92), a scan within the imageplane is performed with a highly-directional wireless antenna to collectthe image plane position information corresponding to a subject, toallow the system to be configured at low cost without having to providea special means for positional measurement such as GPS unit at theelectronic instrument on the subject side.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 96), the image planeposition information corresponding to a specific subject is detectedthrough an image analysis and the subject information is copied from asimilar image file, to enable the user to reference the subjectinformation for a review even when no subject information has beenobtained during the photographing operation. In addition, sinceinformation indicating the image-plane position of a subject is detectedthrough image analysis, the subject is identified based upon the resultsof the image analysis and the position information and subjectinformation related to the identified subject is collected from aninformation source on the Internet or the like, the user is able toreference the subject information for review even when no subjectinformation has been obtained during the photographing operation.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 97), the electronic cameraincludes a non-contact IC card (wireless tag) read circuit to execute anon-contact read of subject information from a non-contact IC card(wireless tag) carried by the subject. Thus, the subject only needs tohold a compact and light-weight non-contact IC card which does notrequire a power source to ensure that his subject information isprovided to the electronic camera without having to perform anyoperation.

Examples of Variations

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described aboveand allows for numerous variations and modifications.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 56), subject information isobtained through a wireless (electromagnetic wave) communication betweenthe electronic camera and the electronic instrument carried by asubject. During this process, a redundant communication with electronicinstruments carried by parties other than the true user should beprevented by keeping the wireless transmission signal output levelwithin a range lower than a predetermined value and thus limiting thecommunication-enabled distance range based upon the assumption thatelectronic instruments have the average reception capability. Thisdistance range is determined by taking into consideration standardmanner in which the electronic apparatus is operated, whether or not anobject that blocks electromagnetic waves is present between theelectronic apparatus and the electronic instrument, the performance ofthe receiver at the electronic instrument and the like. However, it isdesirable to set the distance range to approximately 10 m or less incorrespondence to the focal length of the standard photographic lens.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 56), the wirelesscommunication circuit engages in communication through a short-distancewireless system such as Bluetooth. However, the short-distance wirelesscommunication may be achieved through a system other than Bluetooth,such as wireless LAN (IEEE802.11) or infrared communication (IrPA). Inaddition, communication may be achieved by simultaneously utilizing aplurality of short-distance wireless systems. In the latter case, anelectronic instrument with any type of short-distance function, carriedby a subject can engage in wireless communication with the electroniccamera.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 56), subject information istransferred through a wireless (electromagnetic wave) communicationbetween the electronic camera and the electronic instrument carried by asubject. However, the subject information may instead be transferredthrough another non-contact or contact method.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 60), sound can be recordedwith the audio recording circuit 80 during the photographing operation.However, a highly directional microphone may be utilized during aphotographing operation to record sound generated by a subject presentwithin the image plane, the recorded audio data may be stored into theimage file in correspondence to the image plane subject positioninformation and the recorded audio may be reproduced if the subject inthe reproduced image display is specified through the touch tablet orthe like in the information display mode, instead. In addition, aplurality of microphones with extreme directivity may be utilized torecord sound generated by a plurality of subjects in the image plane atthe same time and the sound corresponding to a subject specified throughthe touch tablet or the like in the reproduced image display in theinformation display mode may be reproduced.

Also, sound generated by a subject or voice commentary related to thesubject may be transmitted as subject audio information to theelectronic camera from an electronic instrument mounted with amicrophone which is carried by the subject or an electronic instrumenthaving pre-stored audio data of the information related to the subjectany time, regardless of whether or not a photographing operation is inprogress and regardless of photographing timing. In such a case, subjectaudio information may be appended to image data obtained byphotographing the subject and saved in correspondence to the position ofthe subject within the photographic image plane indicated by theimage-plane position information. Then. if a given subject is specifiedwith a pointing device such as a touch tablet at the display screenwhile the user is reviewing the image reproduced from the image data inthe information display mode, the subject audio information stored incorrespondence to the position of this particular subject is reproduced.As a result, it becomes possible to provide the viewer with diversetypes of subject information including visual information and audioinformation.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 60), a position on the leftscreen 21 or the right screen 22 is specified through the touch tablet66. However, another pointing device may be utilized for this purpose.For instance, a track ball or a mouse may be utilized as a means forscreen position specification. In addition, if an electronic viewfinder(a viewfinder that enlarges through an optical system a screen displaybrought up at a compact means for screen display to facilitate userobservation) is used, the direction along which the line of sight of theuser extends (the site line position, the visual focus position) may bedetected to enable a screen position specification. In addition, whenusing the touch tablet 66, a member (pen) provided exclusively forposition specification may be used instead of the user's finger toensure that a position is specified with greater accuracy and thatunnecessary subject information is not displayed in response to aninadvertent finger contact.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 64), subject information istransferred through wireless (electromagnetic wave) communicationbetween the electronic camera and the electronic instrument carried by asubject. In addition, a notification acknowledging the reception of thesubject information may be issued from the electronic camera to theelectronic instrument having transmitted the subject information to theelectronic camera, and a message indicating that the subject informationhas been transferred may be brought up on display at the subject-sideelectronic instrument as well. Alternatively, the electronic instrumentmay issue an audio message for the subject person to notify him that thesubject information has been transferred by employing a means for soundgeneration.

By adopting the features described above, the subject can verify thatthe subject information has been transferred. In addition, the subjectprovided with an audio notification can verify that the subjectinformation has been transferred even if his electronic instrument doesnot include a means for display, while the electronic instrument is leftin a pocket or the like.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 66), the electronic cameraengages in the photographing mode operation, the reproduction modeoperation and the information display mode operation. However, imagedata may be generated through a photographing operation performed in theelectronic camera, an image file may be prepared by collecting subjectinformation and image-plane position information through wirelesscommunication and this image file may be transferred on line or off-lineto an image display apparatus other than the electronic camera, whichthen executes the reproduction mode operation and the informationdisplay mode operation, instead.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 66), the switch over betweenthe reproduction mode and the information display mode is achievedthrough a manual operation. Instead, the user may specify a givensubject at a specific position within the reproduced image displaythrough the touch tablet in the reproduction mode to bring up a displayof the subject information related to this particular subject. Thisallows the user to check the information on the subject immediately ashe becomes interested in the subject while reviewing the image data,without having to switch from the reproduction mode to the informationdisplay mode.

With respect to the reproduction mode and the information display modein the embodiment described above (see FIG. 66), audio data recordedwith the audio recording circuit 80 during a photographing operation maybe reproduced with the audio reproduction circuit 81 when reproducingthe image data. In addition, a music database on the Internet may beaccessed based upon the photographing time point data to download musicwhich was popular at the time of the photographing operation and thisdownloaded music may be automatically reproduced as background musicwhen reproducing the image data, as well. In this case, the user, who isreminded both visually and audibly of the time when the picture wastaken, can fully enjoy the viewing experience.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 69), the electronic cameradoes not provide the photographer with a report of the subjectinformation collected through communication with subjects during thephotographing operation. However, a list of collected subjectinformation may be brought up on display together with the image dataobtained through the photographing operation, instead. Since this allowsthe photographer to verify exactly what subject information wascollected during the photographing operation, he is then able to takefurther action to collect more information if there is any missinginformation.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 70), the electronic cameraattempts wireless communication with electronic instruments present inthe vicinity of the electronic camera to collect subject informationduring a photographing operation. The electronic camera may be set inadvance so as not to engage in wireless communication with theelectronic instrument carried by the photographer operating theelectronic camera in this situation. Alternatively, the electroniccamera may engage in wireless communication with the electronicinstrument carried by the photographer during the photographingoperation and record information related to the photographer collectedthrough the wireless communication as photographer informationconstituting part of the photographing information data.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 70), the electronic cameraattempts wireless communication with electronic instruments present inthe vicinity of the electronic camera to collect subject informationduring a photographing operation. During this process, the transmissionsignal output level for the wireless communication (by means of e.g.electromagnetic waves, infrared light) may be adjusted in conformance tothe subject distance (the output level is raised as the distance to thesubject increases). The distance to a subject can be obtained through adetection performed by a distance detection device of the known art, orthe photographing distance of the photographic lens, which is manuallyset, may be used as the subject distance. Through this output leveladjustment, the electronic camera is able to achieve communication withthe electronic instrument held by a subject with a high degree ofpossibility, while the likelihood of achieving communication with anelectronic instrument held by a party other than the subject is reduced.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 71), subject information isautomatically transferred to the electronic camera through a wirelesscommunication between the electronic camera and the electronicinstrument held by a subject during a photographing operation. However,when the electronic instrument receives the communication request 1 orthe information request 3 from the electronic camera, the electronicinstrument may notify the subject of the reception so as to determinewhether or not any further communication is to be carried out inconformance to an instruction from the subject. Since the subject isgiven the option of refusing further communication as necessary in thismanner, uncontrolled circulation of his personal information to theoutside is prevented.

Alternatively, when the electronic instrument receives the communicationrequest 1 or the information request 3 from an electronic camera, theelectronic instrument may compare the identification number of theelectronic camera having transmitted the request with the identificationnumbers of electronic cameras preregistered at the electronic instrumentand may refuse any further communication if the electronic camera is notregistered. In this case, the extent to which the personal informationis allowed to circulate can be automatically controlled.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 71), subject information isautomatically transferred to the electronic camera through a wirelesscommunication between the electronic camera and the electronicinstrument held by a subject during a photographing operation. Instead,the subject information may be automatically transferred into theelectronic camera through a wireless communication between theelectronic camera and the electronic instrument held by the subjectwhile a photographing operation is not in progress. In this case, sinceit is not necessary to engage in wireless communication for each of aplurality of pictures being taken without changing the composition (asin an exposure bracket photographing operation), a series of picturescan be taken quickly, and also, subject information corresponding to theplurality of sets of image data can be collected through a singlewireless communication executed either automatically or manually whenthe photographing operation has been completed or the like.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 71), subject information isautomatically transferred to the electronic camera through a wirelesscommunication between the electronic camera and the electronicinstrument held by a subject, which is carried on at all times during aphotographing operation. However, the wireless communication operationfor subject information collection may be disallowed to prevent a delayin the photographing operation. For instance, when a continuousphotographing (continuous shooting) operation is performed with theelectronic camera, wireless communication may be automaticallydisallowed to prevent a significant lag between continuouslyphotographed image frames due to the wireless communication operation.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 73), information indicatingthe position of a subject within the image plane is calculated by usingthe electronic camera attitude information and the positionalmeasurement information for the electronic camera and the electronicapparatus obtained through the GPS units. However, the image planesubject position information may be detected through another method. Forinstance, if the electronic camera and the electronic instrument held bya subject engage in communication with each other by using infraredlight, the position of the electronic instrument within the image planemay be specified by detecting the light-receiving position on atwo-dimensional infrared light image-capturing element provided at theelectronic camera based upon the image data captured at theimage-capturing element. Alternatively, the image-plane positioninformation alone may be obtained by detecting the position of a pointlight source of infrared light originating from the electronicinstrument with a two-dimensional infrared light image-capturingelement, and the subject information may be obtained through a wirelesscommunication (electromagnetic waves). In such a case, the infraredpoint light source should be turned on with the timing with which theelectronic instrument engages in wireless communication.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 80), the subject informationcorresponding to a position at which the user touches the screen isaccessed on the Internet and is brought up on display in the informationdisplay mode. However, the Internet does not always need to be accessed,and if sufficient subject information has been collected during thephotographing information, such subject information alone may be broughtup on display at the screen. Since this eliminates the need to accessthe Internet to display subject information, a prompt subjectinformation display is achieved, thereby reducing the stress of the useras he no longer needs to wait a long time for the subject information tocome up on display for review.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 81), image data having beenphotographed in a predetermined photographic image plane size arereproduced and displayed in a size matching the display screen size andthe subject information corresponding to a position on the displayscreen specified by the user is brought up on display at the displayscreen in the information display mode. However, the sizes of thephotographic image plane and the display screen do not necessarily needto match each other, and the photographic image plane may be displayedeither in an enlargement or in a reduction on the display screen,instead. In addition, the image data may be modified, rotated or thelike for display at the display screen. If the photographic image planesize and the display screen size do not match, the coordinates of aposition specified on the display screen are converted to positionalcoordinates on the photographic image plane (through enlargement,reduction, shifting, rotation or the like) and the subject informationis displayed based upon the positional coordinates resulting from theconversion. Since this eliminates the need to ensure that the shape ofthe photographic image plane and the shape of the display screen arecongruent with each other, it becomes possible to utilize various typesof image display apparatus in the information display mode and tospecify a desired subject by enlarging the image at the display screenif multiple subjects are present in close proximity to one another inthe image.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 82), the electronic cameraincludes two display screens, at one of which subject information isdisplayed with the image data obtained by subjects displayed (as athumbnail image) at the other screen in the information display mode.However, if the electronic camera has only one screen, the subjectinformation may be displayed over the entire screen with a superimposeddisplay of the image data containing the subjects brought up over partof the screen. As this allows simultaneous review of the subjectinformation and the corresponding image data, the user can intuitivelyunderstand the relationship between the subject information and theimage data even when the electronic camera has a single display screen.

In the second embodiment described above, information related to asubject, which is made to correlate to a subject position within theimage plane, is appended to the electronic image data for storage, andthe subject-related information is brought up on display incorrespondence to the subject position within the image plane when theelectronic image data are reproduced and displayed. As a result,information related to a subject photographed in an image, whichinterests the user reviewing reproduced electronic image data ondisplay, can be quickly and easily reviewed in connection with thereproduced display of the electronic image data.

Third Embodiment

The third embodiment of the present invention is now explained inreference to the drawings. FIG. 98 is a conceptual diagram of the thirdembodiment of the present invention. An electronic camera photographssubjects within the photographing range, assigns a file name to imagedata obtained through the photographing operation, connects with animage server on the Internet and uploads the image data into a specificfolder at the image server. In addition, the electronic camera transmitsaddress information (the Internet address of the image server isequivalent to URL (Uniform Resource Locator), the folder name and theimage data file name at the image server) to electronic instruments(such as portable telephones) carried by the subjects in the vicinity ofthe camera through short-distance wireless communication. The electronicinstrument (such as a portable telephone) carried by a subject connectsto the image server on the Internet based upon the information receivedfrom the electronic camera through short-distance wireless communicationand displays at its screen the image data downloaded from the specificfolder at the image server.

FIG. 99 is a conceptual diagram of an information transmission systemachieved by utilizing an electronic camera, an image server and aportable telephone terminal adopting the present invention. In FIG. 99,an electronic camera 100 photographs a subject present within itsphotographic range and generates electronic image data or digital imagedata (hereafter referred to as “image data”). The electronic camera 100having a wireless telephone function is capable of connecting with apublic telephone line network 140 via a base station 120 through awireless portable telephone line 190. The public telephone line network140 is also connected with the Internet 130 to allow the electroniccamera 100 to connect with an image server 150 accessible via theInternet 130. The image server 150 having a large capacity memory forsaving image data saves image data uploaded via the Internet 130 intofolders set in correspondence to individual users and downloadsspecified image data via the Internet 130 if a read request is issuedfrom an external partner via the Internet 130. By connecting with theimage server 150, the electronic camera 100 uploads and saves image datainto a specific folder.

In addition, the electronic camera 100 has a short-distance wirelesscommunication function such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) andtransfers identification data (URL) of the image server to which imagedata have been uploaded, folder identification data (folder name) andimage data identification data (filename) to a portable telephoneterminal 160 through communication achieved via a short-distancewireless line 180 with the portable telephone 160 having a matchingshort-distance wireless communication function. The portable telephone160 is assumed to be carried by a person who is the subject of aphotographing operation executed with the electronic camera 100, and aUIM card (user identity module card) 170 having stored therein userpersonal information at which image data can also be stored is loaded atthe portable telephone 160.

The portable telephone 160 having a wireless telephone function iscapable of connecting with public telephone line network 140 through thewireless portable telephone line 190. The public telephone line network140 is also connected with the Internet 130 and thus allows the portabletelephone 160 to connect with the image server 150 installed on theInternet 130. By connecting with the image server 150, the portabletelephone 160 downloads the image data in the specific folder, saves theimage data into the UIM card 170, and also displays the downloaded imagedata at its screen.

It is to be noted that Bluetooth refers to a mobile communicationtechnology (for portable electronic instruments) with a low transmissionoutput for short-distance communication, which covers a short-range ofapproximately 10 m by using wireless electromagnetic waves in the 2.45GHz band and realizes a one-on-one or multiple-partner connection at atransfer rate of 1 Mbps.

FIGS. 100 and 101 present external views (a front view and a rear view)of an embodiment of the electronic camera 100 in FIG. 99. As shown inFIG. 100, at the front surface of the electronic camera 100, aphotographic lens 10 which forms a subject image, a viewfinder 11 usedto check the photographic image plane, a strobe 12 used to illuminatethe subject during a photographing operation, a photometering circuit 13that detects the brightness of the subject and a grip portion 14 thatprojects out from the camera main body to allow the electronic camera100 to be held by hand are provided, whereas a shutter release button 16operated to issue an instruction for a photographing start and a powerswitch 17 (a momentary switch which is alternately set to on and offeach time it is operated) through which the on/off state of the power tothe electronic camera 100 is controlled are provided at the uppersurface.

As shown in FIG. 101, at the rear surface of the electronic camera 100,an eyepiece unit of the viewfinder 11, a left LCD (left screen) 21having a substantially quadrangular screen for text and image displayand a right LCD (right screen) 22 having a substantially quadrangularscreen for text and image display are provided, and an up button 23 anda down button 24 for scrolling the image displayed at the left screen 21are provided in the vicinity of, and to the left of the left screen 21,whereas a photographing mode button 25 operated to set the electroniccamera 100 in a photographing mode, a reproduction mode button 26operated to set the electronic camera 100 in a reproduction mode, aPRINT button 27 operated to print image data, a SEND button 28 operatedto transmit image data and a DOWNLOAD button 29 operated to downloadimage data are provided around the right screen 22 and the left screen21. An upload dial 32 is an operating member rotated to select an imageserver to which specific image data are to be uploaded and as it isrotated, the image server corresponding to the number at the position ofa dot 31 is selected. At a side surface, a memory card slot 30 at whicha memory card 77 can be loaded is provided.

It is to be noted that the shutter release button 16, the up button 23,the down button 24, the photographing mode button 25, the reproductionmode button 26, the PRINT button 27, the SEND button 28, the DOWNLOADbutton 29 and the upload dial 32 are all operating keys operated by theuser.

It is also to be noted that over the surfaces of the left screen 21 andthe right screen 22, so-called touch screens 66 having a function ofoutputting position data corresponding to a position indicated through afinger contact operation are provided, and they can be used to make aselection from selection items or make an image data selection on thescreens. The touch screens 66 are each constituted of a transparentmaterial such as a glass resin so that the user can observe images andtext formed inside the touch screens 66 through the touch screens 66.

FIG. 102 presents an example of an external view (front view) of theportable telephone 160 shown in FIG. 99. As shown in FIG. 102, theportable telephone 160 includes a display screen 161, operating keys 162and a UIM card loading slot 163.

In the block diagram in FIG. 103, which presents an example of aninternal electrical structure to be positioned assumed in the electroniccamera 100 shown in FIGS. 100 and 101, various components are connectedwith one another via a data/control bus 51 through which various typesof information data and control data are transmitted. The components aredivided into the following five primary blocks, i.e., (1) a block, thecore of which is a photographing control circuit 60 that executes animage data photographing operation, (2) a block, the core of which isconstituted of wireless communication circuit 710 that communicates withelectronic instruments in the vicinity of the electronic camera 100through short-distance wireless communication (Bluetooth or the like)and a wireless telephone circuit 720 that exchanges data with theoutside through a wireless portable telephone line, (3) a blockconstituted of the memory card 77 in which image files are stored andsaved, (4) a block, the core of which is a screen control circuit 92that executes display of image data and information related to the imagedata and (5) a block, the core of which is constituted of userinterfaces such as operating keys 65 and a CPU 50 that implementsintegrated control on various control circuits.

The CPU 50 (central processing unit), which is a means for implementingoverall control on the electronic camera 100, issues variousinstructions for the photographing control circuit 60, the wirelesscommunication circuit 710, the wireless telephone circuit 720, thescreen control circuit 92 and a power control circuit 64 in conformanceto information input from the operating keys 65, the touch screen 66,the power switch 17, a timer 74 and the photometering circuit 13. Thephotometering circuit 13 measures the brightness of the subject andoutputs photometric data indicating the results of the measurement tothe CPU 50, In conformance to the photometric data, the CPU 50 sets thelength of the exposure time and the sensitivity of a CCD 55 through aCCD drive circuit 56, and in addition, it controls the aperture valuefor an aperture 53 with an aperture control circuit 54 via thephotographing control circuit 60 in conformance to the data indicatingthe settings.

In the photographing mode, the CPU 50 controls the photographingoperation via the photographing control circuit 60 in response to anoperation of the shutter release button 15. In addition, if thephotometric data indicate a low subject brightness, the CPU 50 engagesthe strobe 12 in a light emission operation via a strobe drive circuit73 during the photographing operation. The timer 74 having an internalclock circuit detects information indicating a current time point andprovides the photographing time point information to the CPU 50 duringthe photographing operation. The CPU 50 controls the various units inconformance to a control program stored in a ROM 67 (read only memory).In an EEPROM 68 (electrically erasable/programmable ROM), which is anonvolatile memory, the setting information and the like necessary forthe operations of the electronic camera 100 are stored. A RAM 70 whichis a volatile memory is used as a work area of the CPU 50. The CPU 50implements control on a power supply 63 via the power control circuit 64by detecting the operating state of the power switch 17.

The photographing control circuit 60 focuses or zooms the photographiclens 10 through the lens drive circuit 52, controls the exposurequantity at the CCD 55 through control implemented on the aperture 53 byengaging the aperture control circuit 54 and thus controls the operationof the CCD 55 through a CCD drive circuit 56. The photographic lens 10forms a subject image onto the CCD 55 with a light flux from the subjectvia the aperture 53 which adjusts the light quantity and this subjectimage is then captured by the CCD 55. The CCD 55 (charge-coupled device)having a plurality of pixels is a charge storage type image sensor thatcaptures a subject image, and outputs electrical image signalscorresponding to the intensity of the subject image formed on the CCD 55to an analog processing unit 57 in response to a drive pulse supplied bythe CCD drive circuit 56.

The photographing control circuit 60 repeatedly executes the operationdescribed above and the screen control circuit 92 repeatedly executes anoperation in which the digital data sequentially stored into thephotographic buffer memory 59 are read out via the data/control bus 51,the digital data thus read out are temporarily stored into a framememory 69, the digital data are converted to display image data and arerestored into the frame memory 69 and the display image data aredisplayed at the left screen 21. In addition, the screen control circuit92 obtains text display information from the CPU 50 as necessary,converts it to display text data which are then stored into the framememory 69 and displays the display text data at the left screen 21 andthe right screen 22. Since the image currently captured by the CCD 55 isdisplayed at the left screen 21 in real time in the photographing modein this manner, the user is able to set the composition for thephotographing operation by using this through screen as a monitorscreen. The photographing control circuit 60 detects the state of thefocal adjustment at the photographic lens 10 by analyzing the degree ofthe high-frequency component of the digital data stored in thephotographic buffer memory 59 and performs a focal adjustment for thephotographic lens 10 with the lens drive circuit 52 based upon theresults of the detection.

During a photographing operation, upon receiving a photographinginstruction from the CPU 50, the photographing control circuit 60engages the CCD 55 to capture a subject image via the CCD drive circuit56 and temporarily stores image signals generated through theimage-capturing operation as digital data (raw data) into thephotographic buffer memory 59 via the analog processing unit 57 and theA/D conversion circuit 58. The photographing control circuit 60 thengenerates image data by converting or compressing the digital datastored in the photographic buffer memory 59 on a temporary basis in apredetermined recording format (such as JPEG) and stores the image databack into the photographic buffer memory 59.

The CPU 50 engages the wireless telephone circuit 720 to wirelesslyoutput the image data through an antenna 76 and thus uploads the imagedata into the folder at the image server on the Internet. It alsoengages the wireless communication circuit 710 to wirelessly output theidentification data of the image server to which the image data havebeen uploaded, the folder identification data and the image dataidentification data through an antenna 75. Subsequently, the CPU 50converts the image data stored in the photographic buffer memory 59 tosave them as reduced image data (hereafter referred to as “thumbnailimage data”) with a smaller data volume and stores the thumbnail imagedata appended with the related information (the image serveridentification data, the folder identification data and the image dataidentification data), into the memory card 77.

In the reproduction mode, the screen control circuit 92 reads outthumbnail image data specified by the CPU 50 from the memory card 77,temporarily stores the thumbnail image data thus read out into the framememory 69 and displays the thumbnail image data at the left screen 21.It also stores text data such as reproduction mode instructions into theframe memory 69 and displays the text data at the right screen 22, inresponse to an instruction issued by the CPU 50. If the PRINT button 27is operated in the reproduction mode, the CPU 50 executes an operationfor having the image data corresponding to the reproduced thumbnailimage data printed on a printer. If, on the other hand, the SEND buttonis operated in the reproduction mode, the CPU 50 executes an operationfor having the image data corresponding to the reproduced thumbnailimage data transmitted to a recipient electronic instrument.

In addition, if the DOWNLOAD button 29 is operated in the reproductionmode, the CPU 50 downloads the image data corresponding to thereproduced thumbnail image data from image server through the wirelesstelephone circuit 720 and sets the downloaded image data into the framememory 69. The screen control circuit 92 converts the image data set inthe frame memory 69 to display image data, stores the display image databack into the frame memory 69 and displays the display image data at theleft screen 21.

In FIG. 104 presenting a block diagram of an example of an electricalstructure that may be adopted in the portable telephone 160 shown inFIG. 102, various components are connected around a CPU 151 at theircenter. The CPU 151 (central processing unit), which is a means forimplementing overall control on the portable telephone 160, controls awireless communication circuit 171, a wireless telephone circuit 172, adisplay screen 161 and a power source 163 in conformance to informationinput through the operating keys 162, a touch screen 166, a power switch117 and a timer 174. In a talk mode, the CPU 151 converts sound inputthrough a microphone 164 to audio data and outputs the audio data in awireless transmission to the outside through an antenna 176 by engagingthe public telephone line network 172 and reproduces through a speaker165 audio data received from the outside at the wireless telephonecircuit 172 via the antenna 176.

In an Internet mode, the CPU 151 engages the antenna 175 and thewireless communication circuit 171 to exchange information related toimage data with the electronic camera 100 through short-distancewireless communication and, based upon related information (the imageserver identification data, the folder identification data and the imagedata identification data) thus obtained, it connects with the imageserver on the Internet via the public telephone circuit 172, downloadsthe desired image data, displays a image reproduced from the image dataat its display screen and saves the image data into a UIM card or aflash memory 168.

The CPU 151 controls the various components in conformance to a controlprogram stored in a ROM 167 (read only memory). In the flash memory 168(electrically erasable programmable memory) which is a nonvolatilememory, image data and the like are stored. A RAM 169 is a volatilememory which is used as a work area of the CPU 151. The CPU 151 controlsthe power source 163 by detecting the operating state of the powerswitch 117.

FIG. 105 shows the relationship between the numbers set at the uploaddial 32 of the electronic camera 100 shown in FIG. 101 and the imageservers that are upload t recipients. As shown in FIG. 105, numbers 1,2, 3 and 4 respectively correspond to image servers W, X, Y and Z.

FIG. 106 shows the structure of the data stored in the memory card 77.As shown in FIG. 106, a plurality of image files are saved in the memorycard 77. Each image file is constituted of thumbnail image data andadditional information data. The additional information data isconstituted of photographing information data (see FIG. 107) indicatingthe various settings selected for the photographing operation and uploadinformation data obtained when the image data are uploaded to an imageserver. The upload of information data include date/time data indicatingthe date and time point at which the image data were uploaded to theimage server, the image server identification data (upload destination(location) URL), the folder name, the file name, the volume of the imagedata, the format adopted in recording the image data and the like.

In FIG. 107 showing the structure of the photographing information data,the photographing information data are constituted of photographingdate/time point data and setting information data related to thephotographic lens setting and the camera settings selected for thephotographing operation.

FIG. 108 is a transition diagram for the state of the electronic cameraaccording to the embodiment of the present invention. The electroniccamera 100, which may be set in either of the photographing mode or thereproduction mode, shifts from one mode to the other in response to anoperation of one of two operating buttons (the photographing mode button25 and the reproduction mode button 26). As the power is turned on, theelectronic camera first shifts to the photographing mode. In thephotographing mode, the electronic camera executes a photographingoperation, an upload operation to upload the image data to an imageserver, an operation for converting the image data to thumbnail imagedata and then storing the thumbnail image data into the memory card 77,and a short-distance wireless communication operation for communicatingwith a portable telephone. In the reproduction mode, it executes areproducing operation for reproducing the thumbnail image data, adownload operation for downloading image data from an image server, atransmission operation for transmitting the image data to a portabletelephone and a print operation for printing the image data on theprinter.

FIG. 108 presents a flowchart of the main flow of the operationsexecuted in the electronic camera 100 (the CPU 50) in the embodimentdescribed above. First, as the power switch 17 is operated, the power isturned on in S10, and then, a photographing mode subroutine is executedin S20 thereby setting the electronic camera in a photographing-enabledstate. If the shutter release button 16 is operated in the photographingmode, a release interrupt processing subroutine in S30 is executed toperform a photographing operation. In addition, the image data obtainedthrough the photographing operation are uploaded into an image server onthe Internet specified with the upload dial 32 through a wirelesstelephone line, the image data are also converted to thumbnail imagedata and stored into the memory card 77, and information with regard tothe image data upload is automatically transmitted to the portabletelephone 160 carried by a subject in the vicinity of the electroniccamera 100 through short-distance wireless communication.

In addition, if either of the two operating buttons (the photographingmode button 25 and the reproduction mode button 26) is operated whilethe electronic camera is set in the other operating mode, then modeswitching interrupt processing in S50 is started up to switch over to amode corresponding to the operating button that has been operated.

In the reproduction mode in S60, an image file saved in the memory card77 is read out and the thumbnail image data are reproduced and displayedat the display screen, and as the SEND button 28 is operated, atransmission interrupt processing subroutine in S70 is executed totransmit information with regard to the upload of the image datacorresponding to the selected thumbnail image data to the portabletelephone 160 carried by the subject present in the vicinity of theelectronic camera 100 through short-distance wireless communication. Theportable telephone 160, in turn, automatically connects with the imageserver on the Internet based upon the information received from theelectronic camera 100 and downloads the image data which are thendisplayed at the screen and saved into the UIM card.

If the PRINT button 27 is operated in the reproduction mode, a printinterrupt processing subroutine in S80 is executed to transmit theinformation related to the upload of the image data corresponding to theselected thumbnail image data to a printer present in the vicinity ofthe electronic camera 100 through short-distance wireless communication,and the printer, in turn automatically connects with the image server onthe Internet based upon the information received from the electroniccamera 100, downloads the image data and then executes a printingoperation.

If the DOWNLOAD button 29 is operated in the reproduction mode, adownload interrupt processing subroutine S90 is executed to downloadthrough a wireless telephone line the image data corresponding to theselected thumbnail image data from the image server at which the imagedata have been uploaded and the downloaded image data are reproduced anddisplayed at the display screen.

In the detailed flowchart of the photographing mode subroutine presentedin FIG. 110, after the subroutine is started up in S20, the processingin S201 is repeatedly executed. In S201, image data sequentiallygenerated by the CCD 55 in conformance to the photographing conditionset by the user are displayed at the left screen 21 as shown in FIG. 111and the condition is also displayed as a list at the right screen 22.

In the detailed flowchart of the release interrupt processing subroutinepresented in FIG. 112, after the subroutine is started up in S30, averification is achieved in S301 as to whether or not the camera iscurrently set in the photographing mode and, if it is decided that thecamera is not set in the photographing mode, the operation makes areturn in S311. If, on the other hand, it is decided that the camera isset in the photographing mode, an image-capturing operation is executedin conformance to the photographing setting condition selected by theuser to generate image data in S302 and then in S303, the image data areconverted to thumbnail image data and the thumbnail image data appendedwith the upload information data are stored into the memory card 77 asan image file. Then, in S304, a wireless communication with anelectronic instrument (a portable telephone carried by a subject person)present in the vicinity of the electronic camera 100 is attemptedthrough the means for wireless communication 710. At this time, thesignal transmission output for the wireless communication is adjusted inconformance to the focal length of the photographic lens 10. Forinstance, the signal transmission output level is raised as the focallength increases, since a subject is deduced to be present over agreater distance in such a case. If it is decided in S305 that nocommunication has been achieved, the operation makes a return in S311.If, on the other hand, it is decided that communication has beenachieved, the image data upload information is transmitted to theelectronic instrument of the communication partner with whomcommunication has been achieved in S306. In S307, a display of the imagedata obtained through the photographing operation is started.

In S308, the image data are uploaded into a specific folder (a folderinherent to the photographer or the electronic camera 100) at the imageserver specified through the upload dial 32. Once the image data uploadis completed, a notification of the image data upload completion istransmitted to the electronic instrument in the vicinity of theelectronic camera 100 through the means for wireless communication 710in S309. In S310, the image data display ends and then the operationmakes a return in S311 to start a through image display in thephotographing mode again.

In the sequence diagram presented in FIG. 113 to facilitate anexplanation of the wireless communication operation between theelectronic camera and an electronic instrument (a portable telephone)executed during the release interrupt processing, a photographingoperation is executed in response to a shutter release operationperformed at the electronic camera 100, and then the image data areconverted to thumbnail image data which are saved. Next, the electroniccamera 100 attempts a wireless search communication 1 with an electronicinstrument in the vicinity. In the search communication 1, theidentification information of the electronic camera 100 indicating asender is transmitted.

An electronic instrument having received the search communication 1returns a response 2 to the electronic camera 100 in response, throughwhich the identification information of the sender electronic instrumentand the identification information of the recipient electronic cameraare transmitted.

Upon receiving the response 2, the electronic camera 100 verifies thecommunication partner based upon the electronic instrumentidentification information, and also executes an informationtransmission 3 to transmit the upload information to the specificcommunication partner's electronic instrument. Through the informationtransmission 3, the identification information of the recipientelectronic instrument, the identification information of the senderelectronic camera 100, the upload information, the thumbnail image dataand the like are transmitted.

The electronic instrument corresponding to the electronic instrumentidentification information transmitted through the informationtransmission 3 executes an information transmission 4 to the electroniccamera 100 in response. Through the information transmission 4, theidentification information of the recipient electronic camera 100, theidentification information of the sender electronic instrument andrelated information which includes specific image server informationoriginating from the electronic instrument) are transmitted.

Upon receiving the information 4 transmitted by the electronicinstrument, the electronic camera 100 uploads the image data to theimage server on the Internet through a wireless telephone line. Once theimage data upload is completed, the electronic camera 100 transmits anupload completion notification 5 to the electronic instrument. Theelectronic instrument having received this notification connects withthe image server on the Internet through a wireless telephone line basedupon the upload information received through the informationtransmission 3, and downloads and utilizes the specified image data.

It is to be noted that if the response 2 is returned by a plurality ofelectronic instruments, the electronic camera 100 may either execute theinformation transmission 3 through a simultaneous one-to-multiplepartner communication with the electronic instruments or mayindividually execute the information transmission 3 through a one-to-onecommunication with each electronic instrument. In the latter case, theinformation transmission 4 must be executed a plurality of times.

In the detailed flowchart of the mode switching interrupt processingsubroutine presented in FIG. 114, which is started up in response to anoperation of an operating button (the photographing mode button 25 orthe reproduction mode button 26), after the subroutine is started up inS50, a verification is achieved in S501 as to whether or not theoperated button is the photographing mode button 25, and if it isdecided that the photographing mode button 25 has been operated, theoperation shifts to the photographing mode subroutine in S20. If, on theother hand, it is decided that the photographing mode button 25 has notbeen operated, the operation shifts to the reproduction mode subroutinein S60.

In the detailed flowchart of the reproduction mode subroutine presentedin FIG. 115, after the subroutine is started up in S60, the processingin S601 is repeatedly executed. In S601, thumbnail image data in imagefiles stored in the memory card 77 are sequentially read out startingwith the data photographed most recently, and are reproduced anddisplayed at the left screen 21 while concurrently displaying relevantoperational instructions at the right screen 22, as shown in FIG. 116.The thumbnail image data displayed at the left screen 21 are scrolled inresponse to an operation of the direction button 23 or 24. It is to benoted that in the reproduction mode, one of the plurality of sets ofthumbnail image data displayed at the left screen 21 is selected by theuser through the touch screen 66, and the thumbnail image data thusselected subsequently undergo a transmission operation, a printoperation or a download operation as described later.

In the detailed flowchart of the transmission interrupt processingsubroutine presented in FIG. 117, after the subroutine is started up inS70, a verification is achieved in S701 as to whether or not theelectronic camera is currently set in the reproduction mode, and if itis decided that the electronic camera is not set in the reproductionmode, the operation makes a return in S707. If, on the other hand, it isdecided that the electronic camera is set in the reproduction mode, awireless communication with an electronic instrument in the vicinity ofthe electronic camera 100 is attempted at the signal transmission outputlevel through the means for wireless communication 71 in 5702. If it isdecided in S703 that no communication has been achieved, the operationmakes a return in S707. If, on the other hand, it is decided thatcommunication has been achieved, the electronic instruments with whichcommunication has been achieved are displayed at the right screen 22 aspossible image data recipients in S704 to allow the user of theelectronic camera 100 to select the desired recipient through the touchscreen 66, as shown in FIG. 118. In S705, the operation waits in standbyfor the SEND button 28 to be operated again, and if the SEND button 28is operated, the image data upload information is transmitted to theselected recipient through short-distance wireless communication in S706before the operation makes a return in S707.

In the sequence diagram presented in FIG. 119 to facilitate anexplanation of the wireless communication operation between theelectronic camera and an the electronic instrument (portable telephone)executed during the transmission interrupt processing, the image data tobe transmitted are first selected at the electronic camera 100. Then, asthe SEND button 28 is operated, a wireless search communication 1 withelectronic instruments present within the vicinity is attempted by theelectronic camera 100. Through the search communication 1, theidentification information of the sender electronic camera 100 istransmitted.

Each electronic instrument having received the search communication 1returns a response 2 to the electronic camera 100 in response bytransmitting the identification information of the sender electronicinstrument and the identification information of the recipientelectronic camera.

The electronic camera 100 having received the response 2 verifies thecommunication partners with whom the communication has been achievedbased upon the electronic instrument identification information andselects a recipient. Next, it reads out the upload informationcorresponding to the selected image data from the memory card 77. As theSEND button 28 is operated again, the electronic camera 100 executes aninformation transmission 3 to transmit the upload information to thespecific electronic instrument carried by the selected recipient.Through the information transmission 3, the identification informationof the selected recipient's electronic instrument, the identificationinformation of the sender electronic camera 100, the upload information,the thumbnail image data and the like are transmitted.

The selected recipient's electronic instrument having received theinformation 3 connects with the image server on the Internet through awireless telephone line based upon the upload information, and downloadsand displays the specified image data.

In the detailed flowchart of the print interrupt processing subroutinepresented in FIG. 120, after the subroutine is started up in S80, averification is achieved in S801 as to whether or not the electroniccamera is currently set in the reproduction mode, and if it is decidedthat the electronic camera is not set in the reproduction mode, theoperation makes a return in S807. If, on the other hand, it is decidedthat the electronic camera is set in the reproduction mode,short-distance wireless communication with any printer in the vicinityof the electronic camera 100 is attempted at the signal transmissionoutput level through the means for wireless communication 710 in S802.If it is decided in S803 that no communication has been achieved, theoperation makes a return in S807. If, on the other hand, it is decidedthat communication has been achieved, the printers with whichcommunication has been achieved are displayed at the right screen 22 inS804 to allow the user of the electronic camera 100 to select thedesired printer through the touch screen 66, as shown in FIG. 121. InS805, the operation waits, in standby state, for the SEND button 28 tobe operated again and if the PRINT button 27 is operated, the image dataupload information and a print instruction are transmitted to theselected printer through short-distance wireless communication in S806before the operation makes a return in S807.

In the sequence diagram presented in FIG. 122 to facilitate anexplanation of the wireless communication operation between theelectronic camera and a printer executed during the print interruptprocessing, the image data to be transmitted are first selected at theelectronic camera 100. Then, as the PRINT button 27 is operated, awireless printer search communication 1 with any printer within thevicinity is attempted by the electronic camera 100. Through the printersearch communication 1, the identification information of the senderelectronic camera 100 and function identification information (“printer”in this case) indicating the function of electronic device with whichthe electronic camera-side wishes to communicate are transmitted.

A printer having received the printer search communication 1 returns aresponse 2 to the electronic camera 100 in response by transmitting theidentification information of the sender printer, the identificationinformation of the recipient electronic camera and printer specificationinformation and the like.

The electronic camera 100 having received the response 2 verifies allthe communication partners with whom communicate has been achieved basedupon the printer identification information and selects a desiredprinter. Next, it reads out the upload information corresponding to theselected image data from the memory card 77. As the PRINT button 27 isoperated again, the electronic camera 100 executes an informationtransmission 3 to transmit the upload information to the specificselected printer. Through the information transmission 3, theidentification information of the selected printer, the identificationinformation of the sender electronic camera 100, the upload information,the print instruction information and the like are transmitted.

The selected printer having received the information 3 connects with theimage server on the Internet through a wireless telephone line basedupon the upload information, downloads the specified image data,converts the image data to image data for printing based upon the printinstruction information and executes a printing operation.

The conceptual diagram presented in FIG. 123 illustrating a mode of theinformation transmission among the electronic camera, a printer and theimage server executed during the print interrupt processing describedabove, the electronic camera uploads image data obtained through aphotographing operation to the image server on the Internet through awireless telephone line. Next, the electronic camera transmits imagedata the upload information (the image server's Internet address isequivalent to URL (Uniform Resource Locator), the folder name and theimage data filename at the image server) and control information (theprint instruction information) an electronic device (printer) within ashort-distance wireless communication range through short-distancewireless communication. Based upon the information received from theelectronic camera through the short-distance wireless communication, theelectronic device (printer) connect with the image server on theInternet through a wireless telephone line, downloads the image datafrom the specific folder at the image server and executes an operation(printing processing) on the downloaded image data based upon thecontrol information (print instruction information).

In the detailed flowchart of the download interrupt processingsubroutine presented in FIG. 124, after the subroutine is started up inS90, a verification is achieved in S901 as to whether or not theelectronic camera is currently set in the reproduction mode and, if itis decided the electronic camera is not set in the reproduction mode,the operation makes a return in S905. If, on the other hand, it isdecided that the electronic camera is set in the reproduction mode, theimage server on the Internet is connected through the wireless telephonecircuit 720 based upon the upload information data appended to theselected thumbnail image data to download the image data correspondingto the selected thumbnail image data in S902. In S903, the downloadedimage data are reproduced and displayed at the left screen 21, as shownin FIG. 125. In S904, the operation waits in standby for the DOWNLOADbutton 29 to be operated again, and if the DOWNLOAD button 29 isoperated, the operation makes a return in S905.

FIG. 126 illustrates the structure of the wireless communication circuit710 in the electronic camera. The wireless communication circuit 710 isenclosed by an electromagnetic shield film 79 along the camera rearsurface (in the direction opposite from the direction along which thephotographic optical axis extends, i.e., the side on which thephotographer is present), the camera lower surface, the camera uppersurface and the camera left and right side surfaces. Thus, the wirelesscommunication circuit 710 is allowed to communicate readily with theportable telephone 160 carried by a subject present in the directionalong which the photographing operation is performed with the camera andsince it cannot readily communicate with a portable telephone or anelectronic device carried by a non-subject party who is not presentalong the photographic optical axis. Thus, the image data recipient canbe limited to the portable telephone carried by the subject who has beenphotographed. In FIG. 127 shows the communication directivity of thewireless communication circuit 710, and extreme directivity manifests tothe front of the electronic camera 100 (along the optical axis 40) andlittle directivity to the rear.

By allowing the wireless communication circuit 710 to manifest extremedirectivity along the direction in which the photographing operation isperformed with the camera through the structure shown in FIG. 126 asdescribed above, the likelihood of communicating with the electronicinstrument carried by the subject is increased. It is to be noted thatthe directivity may be adjusted by adopting a specific antenna structureinstead of by using an electromagnetic shield film. A compactdirectional antenna that may be adopted is disclosed, for instance, inJapanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-278037.

In addition, the directivity of the wireless communication circuit 710may be adjusted in conformance to the focal length of the photographiclens. For instance, the communication directivity should be reduced ifthe focal length is small since the photographic field angle will bewide in such a case, whereas the communication directivity should beincreased if the focal length is larger since the photographic fieldangle will be narrow in such a case. The directivity of the wirelesscommunication circuit 710 may be adjusted by mechanically moving theelectromagnetic shield film or by selectively using one of a pluralityof directional antennas with varying directional characteristics. Byimplementing such an adjustment, the likelihood of the electronic camera100 achieving communication with an electronic instrument held by aphotographed subject is increased without allowing ready communicationwith an electronic instrument carried by a party other than the subject.

In the conceptual diagram of the embodiment of the present inventionpresented in FIG. 92, the electronic camera uploads image data obtainedthrough a photographing operation to an image server on the Internet,and an electronic instrument (such as a portable telephone) carried by asubject connects with the image server on the Internet based uponrelated information received from the electronic camera throughshort-distance wireless communication and displays at its screen theimage data downloaded from a specific folder at the image server. As avariation, the electronic camera may obtain upload information(indicating an image server on the Internet, a folder name and an imagedata filename specified by the electronic instrument-side) from theelectronic instrument during the short-distance wireless communicationwith the electronic instrument carried by the subject and upload theimage data obtained through a photographing operation, appended with thefilename specified by the electronic instrument into the specifiedfolder at the specified image server on the Internet based upon theupload information. In this case, the electronic instrument downloadsthe image data assigned with the specified file name from the specifiedfolder of the image server specified by itself.

This variation relieves the subject from a task of saving the downloadedimage data into his own image server.

In addition, the location at which an image is to be saved (a specificfolder at a specific image server) may be specified by the electronicinstrument and a specific image data file name may be assigned by theelectronic camera. Alternatively, the electronic camera may specify animage server and a folder, and the electronic instrument may assign aspecific in image data filename.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 128, the electronic camera may obtainupload information (indicating an image server on the Internet, a foldername and an image data file name) specified by theelectronic-instrument-side from an electronic instrument carried by asubject during the short-distance wireless communication with theelectronic instrument and transmit the upload information obtained fromthe electronic instrument together with image data obtained through aphotographing operation to a preassigned image server on the Internet soas to enable the preassigned server to transmit the received image data,appended the specified file name, into the specified folder at thespecified image server on the Internet, instead. Also in this case, theelectronic instrument can download the image data assigned with thespecified file name from the specified folder on the image serverspecified by itself.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 98 and 113), short-distancecommunication between the electronic camera and a portable instrumentcarried by a subject is executed while obtaining image data through aphotographing operation, or either immediately before or after thephotographing operation, to automatically transfer the image data uploadinformation to the portable instrument, which eliminates the need forperforming a special operation such as manually writing down the uploadinformation and also ensures that the image data upload information istransmitted to the portable instrument of a person highly likely to be asubject photographed n the image data.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 98 and 113), image data arenot directly exchanged between the electronic camera used to obtain theimage data through a photographing operation and the portable telephonewhich is the ultimate recipient of the image data and as a result, theelectronic camera does not need to adjust the image data in conformanceto various image display specifications of different portable telephonesor to engage in communication with the individual portable telephonesover an extended period of time in order to transfer the image data tomultiple users. Thus, the onus placed on the electronic camera isreduced.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 98, 123 and 128), imagedata upload information is exchanged between the electronic camera andan electronic instrument through short-distance wireless communication.As a result, the likelihood of communicating with limited partners suchas a portable telephone carried by a subject and a printer in thevicinity of the electronic camera is increased and, at the same time,the likelihood of communicating with an irrelevant electronic instrumentpresent at a large distance from the electronic camera is practicallyeliminated. In addition, since the signal transmission output level forthe wireless communication is adjusted in conformance to the focallength of the photographic lens, a reliable wireless communication witha subject is achieved while reducing the likelihood of wirelesslycommunicating with a party other than the subject.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 98, 123 and 128), imagedata upload information is exchanged between the electronic camera andan electronic instrument through short-distance wireless communication.Since the short-distance wireless communication is achieved at a lowerinformation transmission rate than that of a wireless portable telephoneline, the structure of the short-distance wireless communication circuitcan be simplified, thereby making it possible to reduce the cost of theelectronic camera and the cost of the portable telephone and also toreduce their sizes.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 98, 128), the electroniccamera which only needs to upload image data obtained through aphotographing operation to an image server on the Internet and does notneed to individually transmit the image data to a plurality ofelectronic instruments is able to start the next photographing operationimmediately after the image data upload. In addition, since eachportable telephone downloads the image data through the image serverwith a high transmission capability, the individual electronicinstruments can download the image data simultaneously at high speed andthe downloaded image data can be promptly reviewed at the individualelectronic instruments.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 98 and 128), thumbnailimage data corresponding to a specific set of image data are transmittedby the electronic camera to the electronic instrument while the imagedata upload information is exchanged between the electronic camera andthe electronic instrument through a wireless communication. Thus, thebasic contents of the image data can be checked at the electronicinstrument prior to downloading of an image data by reviewing thethumbnail image data and if necessary, an action such as cancellation ofthe downloading can be taken.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 112 and 113, the electroniccamera generates thumbnail image data correspondence to image data beingobtained through a photographing operation, uploads the image data to animage server on the Internet and saves the upload information, appendedto the thumbnail image data, in the electronic camera. As a result,desirable image data can be selected and promptly downloaded from theimage server for use.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 126 and 127), the wirelesscommunication directivity of the wireless communication circuit 710 isrestricted so that the directivity manifests in a direction along whicha subject is highly likely to be present relative to the electroniccamera main unit by using an electromagnetic shield film or the like.Thus, reliable wireless communication with the portable telephonecarried by the subject can be achieved to exchange the image data uploadinformation between the electronic camera and the subject's portabletelephone through wireless communication and, at the same time, thelikelihood of wirelessly communicating with a party other than thesubject is reduced.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 128), the image data areultimately saved at the image server specified by the subject. As aresult, the subject is relieved from the task of saving the image dataat his own image server, whereas the electronic camera is able to startthe next photographing operation immediately after the image data uploadsince it only needs to upload the image to a single preassigned imageserver.

Examples of Variations

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described aboveand allows for numerous variations and modifications.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 98, 99, 123 and 128), theelectronic camera uploads image data to an image server on the Internetand a portable telephone downloads the image data from this imageserver. However, the image server does not necessarily need to be one onthe Internet, and it may be an image server on a local communicationnetwork, instead. For instance, the present invention may be adopted ina system in which an image server set up on a wireless LAN (local areanetwork) conforming to the IEEE 802 standard is accessed by electroniccameras and portable telephones (electronic instruments) to upload anddownload image data.

In reference to the embodiment (see FIGS. 98, 123 and 128), aninformation transmission system and an information transmission method,through which image data obtained through a photographing operationperformed at an electronic camera are delivered to a portable telephonecarried by a subject or a printer, are described. However, the presentinvention is not limited to the application in image data transmission,and it may be adopted in general information transmission between aninformation sender and an information recipient present in closeproximity to each other. For instance, the present invention may beadopted in an audio data transmission between an information sender thatis an audio recording apparatus and an information recipient that is aportable telephone, in which audio data recorded by the audio recordingapparatus are transmitted to the portable telephone via an audio serveron the Internet.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 98 and 123), the electroniccamera uploads image data to an image server on the Internet and aportable telephone (electronic instrument) downloads the image data fromthis image server. However, the electronic camera may transmit theelectronic instrument identification information of each electronicinstrument with which communication has been achieved, together with theimage data, to the image server and the image server, in turn, may onlyallow a download of the image data by the electronic instrumentscorresponding to the identification information thus received, in orderto restrict recipients allowed to download the image data from the imageserver. In this case, an unauthorized image data download from the imageserver is prevented for privacy protection.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 98 and 123), the electroniccamera uploads image data to an image server on the Internet and aportable telephone downloads the image data from this image server.However, the portable telephone may transfer the upload informationreceived from the electronic camera to another electronic device (e.g.,a personal computer belonging to the subject) to download the image databy accessing the image server from the other electronic device, instead.In this case, the image data can be reviewed on a screen larger than theportable telephone screen and also a sufficient memory capacity forsaving the image data can be assured.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 98 and 123), the electroniccamera uploads image data to an image server on the Internet and aportable telephone (electronic instrument) downloads the image data fromthis image server. Instead, the electronic camera may transmit theelectronic instrument identification information of each electronicinstrument with which communication has been achieved, together with theimage data to the image server, and the image server, in turn, maytransmit the image data (in a push-type information transmission) to theelectronic instrument corresponding to the identification information byissuing a transmission request to the electronic instrument based uponthe identification information. In such a case, since the electroniccamera and the electronic instrument do not exchange the image dataupload information and the image data are transmitted (pushed) to thespecific electronic instrument only, privacy is protected and, at thesame time, the image data recipient is relieved of the task of readingout the image data.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 98 and 123), the electroniccamera and a portable telephone (electronic instrument) exchange theimage data upload information (the image server address information andthe image data identification information), the electronic camerauploads the image data to the image server on the Internet and theportable telephone (electronic instrument) downloads the image data fromthe image server. However, the configuration described below may beadopted to provide an image service system in which electronic camerasare installed at a plurality of photographing points in a largerpremises such as a theme park, a guest having taken a picture at adesired photographing point downloads the image data obtained throughthe photographing operation from an image server. Namely, each cameradoes not need to include an internal means for communication tocommunicate with a portable telephone carried by the guest but isinstead paired with a means for communication installed separately fromthe electronic camera, image data obtained through a photographingoperation executed with a given electronic camera by a guest areappended with specific identification information and are saved at aspecific image server and the image server address information and theimage data identification information are transmitted to the portabletelephone of the guests by the means for communication. In addition, byrestricting the photographing position at which a guest can bephotographed during a photographing operation and installing the meansfor communication provided as a separate member from the electroniccamera at a position near the guest being photographed, thecommunication output can be lowered to prevent any interference from anelectronic device other than the portable telephone of the guest who isthe subject.

Furthermore, when offering image services such as those described abovein a theme park or the like, a special electronic instrument forexclusive use in conjunction with the image transmission systemaccording to the present invention may be offered to each guest at thetime of admission to ensure that image data are transmitted to the guestwho is photographed in the image data with a high degree of reliabilityby preventing interference from other electronic devices. In an imagetransmission system in which the photographing side, the image recipientside and the image server are fixed as described above, it is notnecessary to provide the image recipient side with the image serveraddress information, and the image recipient side only needs to beprovided with the image data identification information. In this case,the image server address information is fixed and stored within theelectronic cameras, the means for communication and the electronicinstrument for exclusive use within the property.

Alternatively, the identification information of the special electronicinstrument carried by each guest may be transmitted by the electronicinstrument to the means for communication so that each set of imagedata, appended with the corresponding electronic instrumentidentification information is saved into the image server. In this case,no image data identification information needs to be transmitted to thespecial electronic instrument carried by the guest. Namely, theelectronic instrument identification information is transmitted to thephotographing side from the special electronic instrument during thephotographing operation and the identification information is appendedto the image data and is saved into the image server. The image server,accessed by the special electronic instrument carried by the guest, onlyneeds to download the image data corresponding to the electronicinstrument identification information to the electronic instrument. Asan alternative, the image server may forcibly transmit the image data tothe special electronic instrument corresponding to the identificationinformation appended to the image data. In this case, the volume of dataexchanged between the image data photographing side and the image datarecipient side and the types of information exchanged between them canboth be reduced. In addition, since the communication is conducted byusing the special electronic instrument for exclusive use within theproperty, interference from other electronic devices can be prevented toimprove the reliability of the communication.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 98 and 123), the electroniccamera and a portable telephone (electronic instrument) exchange theimage data upload information (the image server address information andthe image data identification information), the electronic camerauploads the image data to the image server on the Internet based uponthe upload information and the portable telephone (electronicinstrument) downloads the image data from the image server based uponthe upload information. However, the upload information does not need toinclude the image data identification information and may be constitutedof the image server address information alone, instead. In this case,the portable telephone connects with the image server to which the imagedata have been uploaded based upon the image server address information,either manually or automatically searches for desired image data basedupon the photographing data and the like after the connection isachieved and downloads the image data selected through the search fromthe image server. Since this eliminates the need for storing in memoryidentification information for each set of image data at the portabletelephone, a means for storage with a small storage capacity can beutilized in the portable telephone.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 98), the electronic cameraand a portable telephone (electronic instrument) exchange the image dataupload information (the image server address information and the imagedata identification information), the electronic camera uploads theimage data to the image server on the Internet and the portabletelephone (electronic instrument) downloads the image data from theimage server. Instead, the electronic camera may transmit the imageserver address information to the portable telephone and receive theportable telephone identification information (the telephone number orthe like) from the portable telephone during the photographingoperation, generate identification information for the image data basedupon the portable telephone identification information and upload theimage data appended with the identification information thus generatedto the image server. In this case, when the image server is accessed bythe subject's portable telephone, the portable-telephone-identificationinformation is provided to the image server so that the image dataappended with the identification information corresponding to theportable telephone identification information are downloaded to theportable telephone. In addition, the electronic camera may generateimage data identification information (an image data filename or thelike) in combination with other photographing information (e.g., thephotographing date/time point (date and time) information) as well asthe portable telephone identification information.

In the variation described above, it is not necessary to store in memorythe image-data-identification information for each set of image data atthe portable telephone and the subject carrying the portable telephoneis allowed to download all the image data in which the subject isphotographed simply by notifying the image server of the portabletelephone number.

In addition, the portable telephone may access the image server byspecifying a given photographing date/time point to selectively downloadthe image data photographed at the photographing date/time pointspecified by the subject carrying the portable telephone. Furthermore,the image server may keep track of a download history (portabletelephone numbers of download recipients, download date/time points,etc.) for each set of image data so that when a portable telephoneaccesses the image server by specifying the download history, image datathat have never been downloaded to the mobile telephone or image datathat have not been downloaded over a predetermined length of time can beselectively downloaded.

In this case, the portable telephone is able to selectively downloadspecific image data without having to store in memory the identificationinformation for each set of image data.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 98), the image data uploadinformation is exchanged through a wireless (electromagnetic wave)communication between the electronic camera and an electronic instrumentcarried by a subject. During this process, a redundant communicationwith electronic instruments carried by parties other than the truesubject should be prevented by keeping the wireless-transmission-signaloutput level within a range lower than a predetermined value and thuslimiting the communication-enabled distance range based upon theassumption that electronic instruments have the average receptioncapability. This distance range is determined by taking intoconsideration the standard manner in which the electronic camera iselectronic apparatus is used, whether or not an object that blockselectromagnetic waves is present between the electronic camera and theelectronic instrument, the performance of the receiver at the electronicinstrument and the like. It is desirable to set the distance range toapproximately 10 m or less in correspondence to the focal length of thestandard photographic lens.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 98, 123 and 128), thewireless communication circuit engages in communication through ashort-distance wireless system such as Bluetooth. However, theshort-distance wireless communication may be achieved through a systemother than Bluetooth, such as a wireless LAN (IEEE802.11) or infraredcommunication (IrDA). Furthermore, communication may be achieved bysimultaneously utilizing a plurality of short-distance wireless systems.In the latter case, an electronic instrument with any type ofshort-distance wireless function carried by a subject, can engage inwireless communication with the electronic camera.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 98, 123 and 128), the imagedata upload information is exchanged through a wireless (electromagneticwave) communication between the electronic camera and the electronicinstrument carried by the subject. However, the image data uploadinformation may instead be exchanged through another non-contact orcontact method.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 98, 123 and 128), theelectronic camera attempts short-distance wireless communication withelectronic instruments in the vicinity of the electronic camera in orderto exchange image data upload information. The electronic camera,however, may be preset so as to disallow any wireless communication withan electronic instrument carried by the photographer operating theelectronic camera.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 98 and 123), an electronicinstrument having obtained upload information from the electronic camerathrough communication between the electronic camera and the electronicinstrument accesses the image server to which image data have beenuploaded based upon the upload information and downloads desired imagedata from the image server. Instead, during the communication betweenthe electronic camera and the electronic instrument, the electroniccamera may obtain the identification information of the electronicinstrument and provide the electronic instrument identificationinformation thus obtained to the image server before the electronicinstrument accesses the image server. In this case, the image serverenables exclusive access by the electronic instrument corresponding tothe identification information received from the electronic camera on aspecific condition. The specific condition may be a specific length oftime allowed to elapse after the electronic instrument identificationinformation is received from the electronic camera or a specific limiton the number of image data downloads. These measures prevent anelectronic instrument that has not communicated with the electroniccamera from downloading image data from the image server. In addition,by limiting the time period during which a given set of image data canbe downloaded or the number of times the data can be downloaded, therisk of a third-party downloading the image data from the image serverby using the same electronic instrument later on is reduced.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 98, 123 and 128),information (the image server address information, the image dataidentification information, the electronic instrument identificationinformation and the like) exchange through wireless (electromagneticwave) communication between the electronic camera and the electronicinstrument carried by the subject. However, prior to the informationexchange, an open key to be used to code the information may betransmitted from the information recipient to the information sender,the information sender may transmit the information coded by using theopen key and the information recipient may decode the receivedinformation by using a secret key coupled with the open key. In thiscase, even if the information exchanged between the electronic cameraand the electronic instrument is intercepted by another electronicinstrument, the information remains secure.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 98), the electronic cameraattempts wireless communication with electronic instruments present inthe vicinity of the electronic camera to exchange the image data uploadinformation during a photographing operation. During this process, thetransmission signal output level for the wireless communication(electromagnetic waves, infrared light) may be adjusted in conformanceto the subject distance (the output level is raised as the distance tothe subject increases). The distance to a subject can be obtainedthrough a detection performed by a distance detection device of theknown art, or a photographing distance of the photographic lens which ismanually set may be used as the subject distance. Through this outputlevel adjustment, the electronic camera is able to achieve communicationwith the electronic instrument held by a subject with a high degree ofreliability and the likelihood of achieving communication with anelectronic instrument held by a party other than the subject is reduced.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 99), the electronic camerauploads image data obtained through a photographing operation to animage server on the Internet through its internal-wireless-telephonecircuit. Instead, the electronic camera may first transmit the imagedata to a portable telephone carried by the photographer operating theelectronic camera through short-distance wireless communication and thephotographer's portable telephone may upload the image data to the imageserver on the Internet through a wireless telephone line. Since thiseliminates the need to provide an internal wireless telephone circuit atthe electronic camera, the electronic camera can be miniaturized andfurther advantages related to power consumption and cost are alsoachieved.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 99), the electronic camerauploads image data obtained through a photographing operation to aselected image server. However, image data may be uploaded to a fixedimage server instead. For instance, by setting up a fixed image serverto be exclusively used for image data upload, marketing an electroniccamera in a package in which image services are offered through theimage server and ensuring all the images photographed with the cameraare uploaded to the image server, the purchaser of the electronic camerais relieved from the task of signing up with an image server himself andthe camera can be operated with ease even by users not familiar with theInternet or the like. It is to be noted that the address information ofthe fixed image server is stored in an nonvolatile memory such as anEEPROM in the electronic camera.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 112), the electronic cameraautomatically downloads all image data photographed in the photographingmode to the image server (the download recording mode). However, theelectronic camera may be allowed to assume another photographing mode (arecording mode for memory cards) for recording photographed image datainto a memory card loaded at the electronic camera and may be manuallyor automatically switched to the download recording mode or the memorycard recording mode. For instance, the electronic camera having beenoperated in the recording mode may be automatically switched to thedownload recording mode as the remaining capacity of the memory cardbecomes low or the electronic camera having been operated in thedownload recording mode may be automatically switched to the recordingmode when the electronic camera moves out of the wireless telephone linecommunication range. Such features allow the photographer to takepictures with the electronic camera without having to worry about stateof the memory card or the state of the wireless telephone line.

In addition, image data may be uploaded to the image server and alsosaved into the memory card at the same time under normal circumstances,and either the upload or the save may be skipped as necessary. Thiseliminates the need to create an image data back-up later on and thus,the image data can be saved with a higher degree of reliability.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 112 and 113), the imagedata upload information is exchanged between the electronic camera andthe electronic instrument through short-distance wireless communicationand then the electronic camera uploads the image data to the imageserver. However, this order may be reversed, i.e., the electronic cameramay first upload the image data to the image server and then the imagedata upload information may be exchanged between the electronic cameraand the electronic instrument through a short-distance wirelesscommunication.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 112 and 113), aphotographing operation is executed in response to an operation of theshutter release button provided at the electronic camera. However, aphotographing operation in the electronic camera may be started upthrough short-distance wireless communication in response to remotecontrol implemented from a portable telephone carried by a person to bephotographed. In this case, the short-distance wireless circuit can beeffectively utilized and, at the same time, the photographing operationcan be executed with the timing desired by the subject.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 113 and 119), theshort-distance wireless communication between the electronic camera andan electronic instrument in the vicinity is initiated by the electroniccamera to transmit the image data upload information to the electronicinstrument from the electronic camera. However, a communication requestmay be first issued to the electronic camera from an electronicinstrument carried by the subject and then the image data uploadinformation may be transmitted by the electronic camera to theelectronic instrument, instead. For instance, a request for the imagedata upload information may be issued from the portable telephone 160 toan electronic camera in its vicinity in response to a specific operationof an operating key 162 at the portable telephone 160 shown in FIG. 102.Since this enables the subject side to initiate the short-distancewireless communication between the electronic camera and the portabletelephone, the electronic camera does not need to engage inshort-distance wireless communication each time a photographingoperation is performed unless necessary and thus, the electronic cameracan perform the next photographing operation immediately after thephotographed image data are uploaded to the image server.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 113 and 119), the imagedata upload information is exchanged through wireless (electromagneticwave) communication between the electronic camera and the electronicinstrument carried by the subject. During this wireless communication,the electronic instrument having received search messages from theelectronic camera may display a message indicating a communication fromthe electronic camera has been received or such a message may beprovided to the subject via a means for sound generation on the subjectside.

Such measures make it possible for the subject to verify that acommunication from the electronic camera has been received. In addition,the subject, i.e., the user, provided with an audio message, can verifythat communication from the electronic camera has been received whilekeeping the electronic instrument which may not include a means fordisplay in a pocket or the like. In addition, the subject havingverified that the communication has been received may refuse to downloadthe image data if necessary by cutting off further communication.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 113 and 119), the imagedata upload information is automatically exchanged through wirelesscommunication between the electronic camera and the electronicinstrument held by the subject. However, the electronic instrumenthaving received the search communication from the electronic camera maycompare the identification number of the electronic camera initiatingthe search communication with the identification numbers of electroniccameras preregistered at the electronic instrument and may refuse anyfurther communication with the electronic camera if it is determined tobe an unregistered camera. In this case, the subject can reject anyimage data photographed by a stranger.

In the embodiment described above (see FIGS. 113, 119 and 122), theimage data upload information is exchanged between the electronic cameraand an electronic instrument through wireless communication. During thewireless communication, the electronic camera may transmit informationon the specifications (the data volume, the recording format, the imageaspect ratio, the number of pixels, etc.) to the electronic instrumentto allow the electronic instrument side to decide whether or not theimage are to be downloaded in correspondence to a specific purpose ofuse for the image data based upon the received image data specificationinformation. For instance, if the party on the electronic instrumentside only wishes to review image data displayed at the screen of hisportable telephone, he may choose to download image data with a smalldata volume or a small number of pixels.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 113), the image data uploadinformation is automatically exchanged between the electronic camera andthe electronic instrument held by a subject through wirelesscommunication during a photographing operation. Instead, photographedimage data may be saved into a RAM or a memory card on a temporarybasis, a series of sets of image data may be uploaded to the imageserver and the image data upload information may be exchanged betweenthe electronic camera and the electronic instrument held by the subjectthrough wireless communication when a series of photographing operationshas been completed. Since this eliminates the need to upload the imagedata and engage in wireless communication each time one of a pluralityof pictures taken without changing the composition (as in an exposurebracket photographing operation) is photographed, the series of picturescan be taken quickly. Then, after the series of photographing operationsis completed or the like, the plurality of sets of image data can beuploaded in a batch and the upload information with regard to theplurality of sets of image data can be exchanged through a singlewireless communication, either automatically or manually.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 113), image data areuploaded to the image server and the electronic camera and theelectronic instrument held by the subject engage in wirelesscommunication every time a photographing operation is performed.However, the image data upload operation and the wireless communicationoperation may be disallowed if the image data upload and the wirelesscommunication are likely to cause a delay in the photographingoperation. For instance, by automatically disallowing the image dataupload operation and the wireless communication operation whenperforming a continuous photographing (continuous shooting) operation,it is possible to prevent any significant lag attributable to the imagedata upload operation and the wireless communication operation frommanifesting between the image frames obtained through the continuousphotographing operation. In this case, the image data obtained throughthe continuous photographing operation should be saved into RAM or amemory card on a temporary basis so that the series of image data can beuploaded in a batch to the image server and the image data uploadinformation can be exchanged between the electronic camera and theelectronic instrument held by the subject through wireless communicationeither automatically or manually after the series of pictures are taken.

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 122), the upload informationand the print instruction information corresponding to the image data tobe printed are transmitted to the printer from the electronic camera inresponse to an operation of the PRINT button. The print instructioninformation transmitted through this process may include information onvarious printer settings (such as the print size, the print quality andthe printing color).

In the embodiment described above (see FIG. 122), the upload informationand the print instruction information corresponding to the image data tobe printed are transmitted to the printer from the electronic camera inresponse to an operation of the PRINT button. Instead, in response toPRINT button operation, the electronic camera may obtain from theprinter the identification information (an IP address) used to identifythe printer on the network and may transmit this identificationinformation to the image server to enable the image server to transmitthe image data to be printed to the printer corresponding to theidentification information. In this case, it is not necessary to storeimage data at the electronic camera and, at the same time, image data tobe printed can be quickly transmitted to the printer to undergo a printoperation.

In the third embodiment described above, information (addressinformation) with regard to an upload of information (image) to aninformation server (image server) on the Internet is exchanged throughshort-distance communication between the information (image) sender sideand the information (image) recipient side, the information (image) isfirst uploaded to the information server on the Internet from theinformation (image) sender side and the information (image) recipientside downloads for a utilization the information (image) from theInformation server (image server) on the Internet to which theinformation (image) has been uploaded. Thus, an information transmissionsystem (image transmission system) and an information transmissionmethod (image transmission method) that enable a speedy transmission ofthe information (image) to the information (image) recipient sidewithout placing a great onus on the information (image) sender sideduring the information (image) transmission are provided.

In particular, when a group picture is taken with an electronic camerasystem that handles image data with a large data volume and the imagedata obtained through the photographing operation need to be deliveredto portable telephones or the like of the plurality of subjects, theelectronic camera is only required to execute the processing fortransmitting the upload information to the individual portabletelephones through short-distance communication and the processing foruploading the image data to the image server on the Internet, the onusof having to transmit the image data to the individual portabletelephones through short-distance communication with the portabletelephone is lifted from the electronic camera and the desired imagedata can be obtained promptly at each portable telephone as well.

The various programs explained in reference to the embodiments can beprovided in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or through data signalson the Internet. For instance, a program executed on the personalcomputer 140 in FIG. 1 may be read from a CD-ROM drive device (notshown) mounted at the personal computer 140. If a program installed atthe electronic camera 100 or the portable telephone 160 can beoverwritten, the electronic camera 100 or the portable telephone 160 mayconnect with the personal computer 140 to download an upgrade program.The programs may be downloaded via the Internet 130 by adopting theconfiguration shown in FIG. 1 as well. By setting up an applicationprogram server in place of the image sever 150 in the configuration, theprograms may be downloaded from this server via the Internet. Whenproviding the programs via the Internet, they are embodied as datasignals on a carrier wave to be transmitted via a communication line.Thus, programs can each be distributed as a computer-readable computerprogram product assuming any of the various modes such as a recordingmedium or carrier wave.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic camera operated to photograph asubject, comprising: an image capturing unit that photographs a subjectwithin a photographic image plane through a photographic optical systemand generates image data; an information collection unit that collectssubject information related to the subject from an external electronicinstrument through communication with the electronic instrument; and acorrelating unit that correlates the subject information to a positionwithin the photographic image plane, wherein: the information collectionunit is started up in response to an operation of the externalelectronic instrument to collect the subject information related to thesubject from the electronic instrument.
 2. An electronic cameraaccording to claim 1, wherein: the information collection unitcommunicates in wireless with the external electronic instrument.
 3. Anelectronic camera according to claim 2, wherein: the informationcollection unit communicates with the electronic instrument by using anelectromagnetic wave signal and limits a wireless communication rangewithin a predetermined distance range relative to the electronic cameraby restricting a transmission output level of the electromagnetic wavesignal.
 4. An electronic camera according to claim 2, wherein: theinformation collection unit communicates with the electronic instrumentby using an electromagnetic wave signal and adjusts a transmissionoutput level of the electromagnetic wave signal in conformance to thedistance to the subject.
 5. An electronic camera according to claim 4,wherein; the information collection unit raises the transmission outputlevel of the electromagnetic wave signal as the distance to the subjectincreases.
 6. An electronic camera according to claim 2, wherein: theinformation collection unit communicates with an electronic instrumentby using an electromagnetic wave signal and adjusts a transmissionoutput level of the electromagnetic wave signal in conformance to afocal length of the photographic optical system.
 7. An electronic cameraaccording to claim 6, wherein: the information collection unit raisesthe transmission output level of the electromagnetic wave signal as thefocal length of the photographic optical system increases.
 8. Anelectronic camera according to claim 2, wherein: the informationcollection unit manifests extreme wireless communication directivityalong a direction in which the subject is likely to be present.
 9. Anelectronic camera according to claim 8, wherein: the informationcollection unit has extreme wireless communication directivity along aphotographing direction extending along an optical axis of thephotographic optical system.
 10. An electronic camera according to claim2, wherein: the image collection unit wirelessly communicates with theexternal electronic instrument through a plurality of different wirelessmethods.
 11. An electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein: theinformation collection unit does not collect subject information from apredetermined electronic instrument.
 12. An electronic camera accordingto claim 11, wherein: the predetermined electronic instrument is anelectronic instrument carried by a photographer operating the electroniccamera.
 13. An electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein: theinformation collection unit collects the subject information related tothe subject from the electronic instrument by communicating with theexternal electronic instrument with a timing close to the timing withwhich the subject is photographed by the image-capturing unit.
 14. Anelectronic camera according to claim 1, wherein: the electronic cameracan be set in a continuous shooting mode in which images of the subjectare taken in rapid succession by the image-capturing unit; and includesa disallowing unit that disallows operation of the image collection unitin the continuous shooting mode.
 15. An electronic camera according toclaim 1, wherein: the correlating unit detects image-plane positioninformation indicating a position of the subject within the photographicimage plane and correlates the subject information to the positionwithin the photographic image plane based upon the image-plane positioninformation.
 16. An electronic camera according to claim 15, furthercomprising: a position measurement unit that generates camera positioninformation by detecting a position of the electronic camera; and anattitude detection unit that generates camera attitude information bydetecting an attitude of the electronic camera, wherein: the correlatingunit collects subject position information indicating a position of thesubject from the electronic instrument by communicating with theexternal electronic instrument and detects the image-plane positioninformation indicating the position of the subject within thephotographic image plane based upon photographic field angle informationobtained in conformance to a focal length of the photographic opticalsystem and an image size captured in the image capturing unit, thesubject position information, the camera position information and thecamera attitude of information.
 17. An electronic camera according toclaim 15, wherein: the correlating unit wirelessly communicates with theexternal electronic instrument while scanning inside the photographicimage plane with a wireless communication antenna with extremedirectivity and detects the image plane position information indicatingthe position of the subject within the photographic image plane basedupon a scanning position assumed within the photographic image planewhen wireless communication with the electronic instrument is achieved.18. An electronic camera according to claim 15, wherein: the correlatingunit receives at a two dimensional infrared sensor an infrared lightbeam emitted from a point source of an infrared light provided at theexternal electronic instrument and detects the image plane positioninformation indicating the position of the subject within thephotographic image plane by detecting a position at which the light beamis received.
 19. An electronic camera according to claim 15, wherein:the correlating unit detects the image plane position information with atiming close to the timing with which the subject is photographed by theimage-capturing unit.
 20. An electronic camera according to claim 15,wherein: the correlating unit is manually started up to engage inoperation with a timing bearing no relation to the timing with which thesubject is photographed by the image capturing unit to detect the imageplane position information.
 21. An electronic camera according to claim15, wherein: the correlating unit detects the image plane positioninformation indicating the position of the subject within thephotographic image plane by analyzing the subject position within thephotographic image plane through an image analysis of the image data.22. An electronic camera according to claim 21, wherein: the informationcollection unit conducts a search of similar image data bearingsimilarity to the image data of the subject and extracts subjectinformation appended to the similar image data obtained through thesearch; and the correlating unit correlates the subject information to aposition within the photographic image plane by using the image planeposition information obtained through the image analysis.
 23. Anelectronic camera according to claim 21, wherein: the informationcollection unit identifies a subject through an image analysis of theimage data and obtains subject information related to the identifiedsubject from an information source on a network between executing anetwork communication; and the correlating unit correlates the subjectinformation to a position within the photographic image plane by usingimage plane position information obtained through the image analysis.24. An electronic camera according to claim 1, further comprising: astorage unit that generates an image file containing the image dataappended with the subject information made to correlate to the positionwithin the photographic image plane and stores in memory the image file.25. An electronic camera according to claim 1, further comprising: animage display unit that displays the image data at a display screen; aposition specification unit that specifies a position on the displayscreen at which the image data are displayed; and an information displayunit that displays subject information made it to correlate to aposition within the photographic image plane corresponding to theposition specified through the position specification unit.
 26. Anelectronic camera according to claim 25, wherein: the positionspecification unit includes a touch tablet for position specificationwhich is installed on the display screen and allows light to betransmitted, detects through the touch tablet a position of a subjectdisplayed at the display screen which is specified by a user with afinger or another member and specifies a position at the display screenin correspondence to the detected position.
 27. An electronic cameraaccording to claim 25, wherein: the subject information includes accessinformation with regard to an information source on a network havingstored therein detailed information on the subject; and the informationdisplay unit obtains, through a network communication, the detailedinformation on the subject from the information source on the networkindicated by the access information included in the subject informationand displays the obtained information.
 28. An electronic cameraaccording to claim 25, wherein: the image display unit and theinformation display unit share a common display screen; and theinformation display unit displays reduced image data over an areaconstituting part of the display screen when displaying the subjectinformation at the display screen.
 29. An electronic camera according toclaim 1, wherein: the subject information includes audio information.30. An electronic camera according to claim 29, wherein: the informationcollection unit collects audio information comprising sound generated bythe subject by using a highly directional microphone from the subjectwithin the photographic image plane during a photographing operation;and the correlating unit correlates the audio information to theposition within the photographic image plane by using image-planeposition information obtained along a direction in which the highlydirectional microphone manifests extreme directivity.
 31. An electroniccamera operated to photograph a subject, comprising: an image capturingunit that photographs a subject within a photographic image planethrough a photographic optical system and generates image data; aninformation collection unit that collects subject information related tothe subject from an external electronic instrument through communicationwith the electronic instrument; and a correlating unit that correlatesthe subject information to a position within the photographic imageplane, wherein: the electronic camera can be set in a continuousshooting mode in which images of the subject are taken in rapidsuccession by the image-capturing unit; and includes a disallowing unitthat disallows operation of the image collection unit in the continuousshooting mode.